Kentucky Downs paid out a record $8,619,000 in purses and Kentucky-bred purse supplements at its meet that concluded Thursday.
The average daily purses of $1,723,800 for the five-date meet is the highest average in North America. That's up 9.3% over last year's purse total of $7,885,979 for an average of $1,577,195 a day, which in turn was up 19% over 2015.
In addition, Kentucky Downs, in an agreement with the Kentucky division of the Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association, moved $1.65 million in purses and Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund purse supplements to Ellis Park.
“We take to heart that our horsemen are our partners, and Kentucky Downs is thrilled to pay out record purses,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs' senior vice president and general manager. “We appreciate the rising cost of owning, training and racing horses. For some horse owners, winning one race or even finishing second at Kentucky Downs can carry them for the year.”
Nicholson added, “We are proud to be the Kentucky trailblazer in using historical horse racing to become a national leader and to help improve the commonwealth's entire racing circuit. The past two Ellis Park meets have shown how tracks and horsemen working together can accomplish great things to keep horses and jobs in the state, and that puts money into the massive agribusiness dependent on the health of Kentucky horse racing.”
For the second straight year, wagering on Kentucky Downs was up 34%.
Wagering from all sources on the track's 2017 meet that ended Thursday totaled $30,246,887.68. That's an increase in average of 34.19% over the $22,540,761.22 bet in 2016. Off-track betting on the meet was $29,217,935.98, up 35.2% from the $21,611,352.02 wagered last year.
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