(Edited press release)
Lone Star Park announced May 10 that it will cut overnight purses by 6% effective May 22, not run one stakes and cut the purse for three other stakes.
The $50,000 Alysheba Stakes, scheduled for June 27 will be suspended and not be run in 2009. Also, three $100,000 stakes – Assault Stakes (July 11), Silver Spur Stakes (July 25) and Middleground Stakes (July 26) – have had their purses reduced by $25,000 to $75,000.
"We are extremely disappointed, but like all other tracks in North America, we are experiencing a downward trend in handle across the board that requires us to make these cuts," said Lone Star Park president and general manager Drew Shubeck. "Unfortunately, the continued soft local and national economy makes this necessary.
Lone Star’s 2009 spring Thoroughbred season runs four days a week, Thursday and Friday at 6:35 p.m. first post and Saturday and Sunday at 1:35 p.m. through July 26. The Lone Star Million program on Memorial Day will start at 1:35 p.m. and special twilight programs with post-race holiday fireworks on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4 (Lone Stars & Stripes Fireworks Celebration) will commence at 5 p.m. (All times are Central Time).