Calder Race Course to Reduce Purses Effective Thursday
Lower than expected business levels have prompted Calder Race Course to
reduce its daily purse outlay by approximately $10,000 beginning with
the races scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 15. Entries for those races will
be taken on Saturday, Nov. 10. The adjustment is necessary to prevent an
overpayment of purses. Purse levels will continue to be monitored as the
season progresses and further adjustments could be made accordingly. The
Tropical Meet runs through Jan. 2, 2008.
In addition, two of the meet’s $100,000 stakes
races will be cancelled: the Kris S. Stakes and the Cherokee Frolic
Stakes, both originally scheduled for Dec. 8. The two turf stakes are
for 2 year olds and 2-year-old fillies, respectively, and are considered
prep races for the Tropical Park Derby (G3) and Tropical Park Oaks, both
to be run on turf on New Year’s Day. Also,
purses for overnight stakes and handicaps will now be set at $35,000,
down from their original value of $50,000.
Calder President Ken Dunn cited poor weather conditions during the first
part of the Tropical Meet that forced a considerable number of turf
races off the grass as a significant factor in the early business levels
of the meet, which opened on Oct. 15.
Calder Race Course, located on South Florida’s
Miami-Dade / Broward county line, offers Thoroughbred horse racing and
wholecard simulcasting during two consecutive meets. The track is home
of the Summit of Speed, Juvenile Showcase, Festival of the Sun, Florida
Million and Grand Slam series of events. A wholly owned property of
Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), Calder
also operates the Tropical at Calder Meet. In 2007, the Calder Meet runs
from April 25 through Oct. 14 and the Tropical at Calder Meet runs from
Oct. 15 through Jan. 2, 2008. Information about Calder Race Course can
be found on the Internet at www.calderracecourse.com.
