Videos | Partners In Thoroughbreds

Breeder’s Cup Cuts 2009 Purse Supplements

Referencing an predicted decrease in revenues due to the failing global economy, the Breeders’ Cup has frozen its $5 million program putting up supplements to stakes purses at 40 race tracks in 2009.

The Breeders’ Cup also okayed upping the entry fees to 0.5-point for the 2-day card of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and trimming down nomination fees for horses of racing age.

Purses for the 14 Breeders’ Cup races of $25.5 million stay the same as this year for the 2009 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park.

“Even with the difficult economic circumstances, the board was committed to holding the line on championship purses,” said Breeders’ Cup’s chief executive, Greg Avioli, citing the 14 races, in a prepared statement. “While the financial results for the 2008 championships were solid, the combination of the

economy and its effects on the sales and breeding segments of our business provides a challenging environment, and we’ve had to take steps to ensure that we emerge positively from the current atmosphere.”

The $5 million supplemental stakes program renders up to $100,000 in purse supplements for specifiedstakes races. Horses who are nominated to the Breeders’ Cup are eligible to earn the purse

money from the supplements, while non-nominated horses run only for the base portion of the purse.

Nomination fee for horses of racing age whose sires were not nominated to the Breeders’ Cup will be reduced from $250,000 to $200,000, the Breeders’ Cup said. For horses of racing age who were not nominated as foals but whose sires were nominated, the fee will drop from $150,000 to $100,000. Breeders’ Cup said that it decided to reduce the fees as an incentive for horses that have not been nominated to take part in the Breeder’s Cup races.

Also, entry fees for all horses will be increased from 2.5% of the purse to 3%. Entries fees were cut back to 2.5% in 2005.