From a Delaware Park release
Delaware Park is reducing purses for higher-level overnight races to enable completion of the scheduled 81-day meet for 2014.
The majority of races at Delaware Park will not be affected by the change.
Delaware Park Management and the condition book committee of the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association have agreed to a reduction in purses for the higher-level overnight races which will take effect on August 2 and will offset a drop in available purse money from Delaware Park’s casino revenues, which are under pressure from increased casino competition in the Mid-Atlantic region and the effect of the temporary closing of Interstate 495. Delaware Park contributes a state-mandated percentage of its casino revenues toward the racetrack purses.
All overnight stakes have been eliminated from the schedule. A maiden special weight has been reduced to $30,000 from $35,000, a non-winner of one-other-than-allowance has been reduced to $31,000 from $37,000, a non-winner of two has been reduced to $33,000 from $38,000 and the bottom-level claiming race will have a minimum purse of $10,000.
August 2 is the first day of the racing schedule in the third condition book.
