In a continued effort to provide the wagering public the best racing product
possible, Arlington Park management announced that they have reached an
agreement with the Illinois Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association (ITHA) to offer
a bonus of up to five percent of the base purse of overnight races contingent
upon the number of distinct wagering interests in the starting field.
The base purse of overnight races that leave the starting gate with 10 or 11
separate wagering interests will be increased by 2.5 percent while the base
purse of overnight races that start with 12 wagering interests will receive a 5
percent boost. For example, should a maiden special weight race with a base
purse of $28,000 leave the gate with 10 or 11 wagering interests, that purse
will be increased to $28,700 and increased again to $29,400 should a full field
of 12 betting interests start.
Field size at Arlington Park last year averaged 8.23, slightly ahead of the
national average of 8.17, with more than 30 percent of the more than 900
overnight races carded last year starting with 10 or more separate betting
interests.
“Offering this incentive is a win-win-win situation for the horsemen, racing
fans and the racetrack,” Arlington Park Vice President of Racing and Racing
Secretary Kevin Greely explained. “The more horses there are in a race, the
better the wagering opportunity for the racing fans, which leads to more betting
which of course leads to higher purses.”
The purse enhancement is being offered on all overnight races, regardless of
class level or surface, from maiden claiming races to overnight stakes races on
both Arlington’s all-weather main track and its world famous turf course, and is
believed to be the first such across-the-board, meet-long enhancement to be
offered at a major racetrack.