Suffolk Increases Purses 15%

Suffolk Downs has increased its overnight purses by 15% for its three festival weekends June 9-10, July 7-8 and Aug. 4-5. With the increase, $5,000 claiming races will now carry a purse of $30,000, maiden special weight races will offer a purse of $47,500 and allowance/optional claiming races will be listed at $52,500, pending approval by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

The track offered lucrative starter incentives for trainers at $400 per horse and owners were rewarded with $500 for horses finishing first through fifth (on top of purse money) while the owners of horses finishing sixth through last received a bonus of $1,500. This incentive program will continue in 2018.

“We understand that asking people to ship in for each weekend requires that we ensure some return on their investment and we expect that we'll be over $500,000 per day in purses with this increase,” said Chip Tuttle, the Chief Operating Officer at Suffolk Downs. “We appreciate the cooperation of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in making these weekends a success.”

 

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