News
Second Purse Increase Announced
Hoosier Park Racing and Casino has announced a second purse increase for the 2009 Thoroughbred racing season. The increase went into effect with the Sunday, Sept. 13 racing program. It is the second increase in the last 30 days at the Anderson, Ind. facility.
Average daily purses will now be more than $214,000 for the remainder of the 2009 meet, which concludes Saturday, Oct. 24. The first announcement boosted purses by 12 percent. The second increase will bring purses to approximately 20 percent above the initial purse structure for the season.
“This increase will assist our racing office to further strengthen and enhance our already improved racing program,” said Jeff Smith, general manager of racing. “Our improved purse structure will award our horsemen and fans with a better overall racing program from top to bottom. This would not have been possible without the assistance and support from the HBPA (Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association) and the horsemen.”
The addition of purse money is largely contributed to the added money from casino operations, which opened in June 2008. Average daily purses began at $190,000 per day when the 2009 racing season got underway Thursday, July 30. This figure is compared to $142,000 per day in 2008.
Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson, Ind., is central Indiana’s premier entertainment destination, featuring 2,000 electronic gaming devices; Standardbred, Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing; and wholecard simulcasting. Hoosier Park Racing & Casino is a wholly owned property of Centaur Gaming, which also owns and operates Fortune Valley Hotel and Casino in Central City, Colo., and is working to develop Valley View Downs in western Pennsylvania. Hoosier Park also provides simulcast-wagering facilities in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Merrillville, Ind. For more information, visit www.hoosierpark.com.
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