On the heels of two banner years, Thistledown has increased the purse for the
Ohio Derby to a record high of $500,000. The 81st running of the 1 1/16-mile
Ohio Derby will take place on Saturday, June 20.
This marks the second year in a row that the purse for the Ohio Derby has
seen a significant increase, up from just $100,000 in 2013. In addition, daily
purses at the 90-year-old track will average $130,000, which will be the highest
daily average of any Thoroughbred track in the state.
“We are thrilled with the purse increase for the Ohio Derby. The added money
will go a long way in attracting some of the best three-year-olds in the
country,” said Patrick Ellsworth, racing secretary at Thistledown.
Typically raced in July, the Ohio Derby has been moved up to claim an earlier
spot on the summer calendar. The new date positions the Ohio Derby between the
famed Triple Crown races and the prestigious stakes races that occur across the
country later in the summer.
In addition to the boost in the Ohio Derby purse, the daily purses at
Thistledown will receive an 18 percent increase over the 2014 average daily
purse of $111,000.
“Since the addition of VLTs nearly two years ago, the quality of racing at
Thistledown has improved significantly,” Ellsworth said. “The horsemen continue
to enhance their stables and their reward is higher purse payouts. It’s a sign
of the upward trend in thoroughbred racing in Ohio.”
The track’s racing season kicks off this year on April 27 and will run 100
days.
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