Turfway Cuts Kentucky Cup Purses

Turfway Park announced today it was cutting $150,000 from purses on its biggest fall day, Kentucky Cup. Track president Robert Elliston blamed the purse reductions on nearby gaming and entertainment opportunities.

On Sept. 22, the Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) will be worth $400,000, a cut of $100,000. The Turfway Park Breeders' Cup (gr. III) will be run for $200,000, a drop of $50,000.

The track had previously announced it was canceling the $50,000 Kentucky Cup Starter Stakes.

The purses for the day's other three stakes were not affected--the $150,000 Kentucky Cup Sprint, (gr. II), $100,000 Kentucky Cup Juvenile (gr. III), and $100,000 Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies.

"Turfway Park faces the stiffest competition of any racetrack in the country with three riverboats, another Thoroughbred track, and two professional sports teams within a 30-mile radius," Elliston said. "While it is disheartening to reduce the purses for the Kentucky Cup, we have to protect the integrity of our daily purses."