After six days of racing at Hastings Racecourse the mutual handle is up 13% over 2014. We keep track on a day to day basis comparing day one against day one in 2014 and so on.
A combination of good weather so far and the field size being up by nearly a half a horse per race has certainly helped one would think.
The field size is a very good 7.09 horses per race. Horsemen seem to have their horses ready to run much early then in the past and the very dry spring probably has really helped.
Sunday there was nearly 100 workers so one should start to see several more first time starters shortly.
Also there is two – two year old races in the in the condition book for next weekend. A open two year old race for May 23rd and a fillies on May 24th. Both race are over the nursery course at about 3 1/2 furlongs.
Also note that all six days of racing so far have been over a fast racing strip.
Wintering Incentive Program
The wintering incentive fund appears to be a complete success as many horsemen have mentioned to me that they would have sold some of their lower claiming horses if it had not been for the Wintering Incentive Program. After six days of racing the horsemen have received a total of $162,000.00 from the wintering program.
Purses Paid Out to Date
The total amount of purses paid so far is $818,100 which includes four stakes races. The average purses paid per day is $136,350.00 per day.
The total of $618,100.00 has been paid out to overnight races after six days and a total of 41 overnight races have been run. That comes to an average of $15,076.00 per race.
The split on overnight races is 89% ($553,000.00) to straight purses or any breed. A total of 9% ($553,000.00) to BC bred horses and 1% ($7063.00) to 6-12 finishers.
The splits in 2014 were 85% to straight purses, 11% to BC Breds and 4% to 6-12 finishers. Its been said that 74% of the horses on the grounds are BC Breds but their actually purse earnings are 2% lower to date? The 6-12 finishers are not actually down 3% as we now pay the first 8 finishers from the purse of each race so that has lowered the 6-12 purse payout considerably.
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