The cut comes after 10 consecutive purse increases for Thoroughbred racing at Woodbine dating back to September 1997.The purse adjustment does not affect stakes races.
Woodbine officials said a "softening" in wagering has led them to cut purses by 3% effective Sept. 10."This purse decrease does not necessarily mean we are experiencing a negative business trend," said Hugh Mitchell, Woodbine's senior vice president of racing. After a number of years of wagering growth, our Thoroughbred wagering appears to have softened and leveled out in 2003. Past purse increases were implemented in anticipation of wagering continuing to grow."As a result of this Thoroughbred wagering trend and our slot operations being shut down for eight days because of the hydro blackout, a slight purse cut has become necessary,"
