Starting with the card on Saturday, Sept. 25, the New York Racing Association will increase purses at Belmont Park’s fall championship meet by approximately 13%, according to a release. Average daily purses for the Belmont meet will be $480,000, up from the initial projected figure of $425,000.
With purses for overnight races increasing roughly 13% across all categories, some of the changes include:
—Overnight stakes increase to $70,000 from $60,000;
—Open money allowance routes increase to $63,000 from $56,000;
—Open maiden special weight routes increase to $52,000 from $46,000;
—Starter allowance routes increase to $47,000 from $42,000;
—New York-bred maiden special weight routes increase to $44,000 from $39,000.
NYRA was able to increase overnight purses for the Belmont meeting because of higher than projected wagering activity at the Saratoga meeting and a purse underpayment by $500,000 at Saratoga instead of the projected $2.5 million overpayment.