Gross purses in North America in 2008 slipped 1.3% from the record level achieved in 2007 as a decline of more than $1 billion in pari-mutuel handle in 2008 reduced the contribution to purses from wagering. Bucking the trend, however, was Pennsylvania, where available purse money increased 44.5% in 2008 and has more than doubled during the last two years following the introduction of alternative gaming at the state’s racetracks and the opening in 2007 of Presque Isle Downs. Pennsylvania trailed only California and New York by offering $110.2 million in gross purses in 2008. The other states showing the largest percentage increase in available purse money in 2008 were Virginia (+19.1%), Oklahoma (+14.1%) and Indiana (+10.3%).
Since 2005, Canadian purses have been converted to their equivalent amount in U.S. funds.
In some instances, total purses may not equal the sum of individual countries due to rounding.
Purses include monies not won and returned to state breeder or other funds, but do not include retroactive payments. In Puerto Rico, retroactive payments represent a significant part of total prize money distributed, totaling $3.4 million in 2008.
Sources: Equibase Company LLC and Hipodromo Camarero
