Turfway Park announced that it is increasing its purses by 5 percent, with the increase
retroactive from Thursday.
“As we saw in our recent Holiday Meet and in these first weeks of our
Winter/Spring Meet, Turfway’s business has been good,” Turfway Park President Robert
Elliston said. “We have especially noted an increase in out-of-state wagering on
our races, and we are pleased that handicappers across the country are investing
their time and money in Turfway’s product. We appreciate the opportunity their
confidence gives us to pass along increased purse money to our horsemen.”
The Holiday Meet, which ran from November 27 through December 31, witnessed a
15.7 percent rise in purses compared to the same period in 2004. Turfway officials
attribute this
increase in part to more allowance races, made possible by horses who otherwise
would have raced at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, as well as the new Polytrack
surface.