Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino has announced a 10% purse increase for all overnight races effective June 13.
The increase will bring average daily overnight purses at the Opelousas, La., racetrack to about $177,000. Track officials in a release said that figure doesn’t include the accredited Louisiana-bred supplements generated by revenue from on-track slot machines.
Evangeline Downs racing secretary Coleman Lloyd said the minimum purse (for $3,500 claimers and $5,000 maiden claimers) will rise to $8,300 from $7,500. The same classes for Louisiana-bred runners will go for $15,200, he said.
Open maiden special weight events will race for $24,200; for state-bred horses, the pot will be $34,700.
For the first 37 days of the Evangeline meet, field size has averaged 10.56 horses per race, believed to be the highest figure in the country. The track is using its new turf course for the first time this season.
Evangeline Downs offers live racing Wednesdays through Saturdays with first post time at 6:20 p.m. CDT.