As the Hawthorne fall meet closes, the spring meet at
Hawthorne is just around the corner as a focus upon larger fields and improving
wagering options will be the goal. With
the release of the impact fee funds prior to the fall meet of 2011 and carrying
through 2012 and 2013, horsemen have recognized larger purses and better race
options.
For the spring meet of 2012, Hawthorne Race Course, in
agreement with the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, will continue
paying to the bottom finisher in every race, and offer a purse incentive, in
addition to the base purse for races that run with 8 horses or more.
For all claiming, maiden claiming, and starter races that
start with a field of 8 or 9 starters, an additional $1,000 will be added to
the base purse. If the race runs with 10 or 11 starters, $2,000 will be added
to the purse and if the race starts with 12 horses, $3,000 will be added to the
purse. For maiden allowance, allowance and optional claiming allowance races,
$2,000 will be added to the purse with a field of 8 or 9 starters. If the field is 10 or 11, $4,000 will be
added and $6,000 will be added for a 12 horse field. A breakdown of race levels
and how purses will be impacted for the 2012 spring meet:
Race Type Base Purse 8/9 Str 10/11
Str 12 Str
Mcl $7,500 $11,500 $12,500 $13,500 $14,000
IL Mcl $10,000 $13,500 $14,500 $15,500 $16,500
Mcl $15,000 $13,500 $14,500 $15,500 $16,500
Mcl $25,000 $17,000 $18,000 $19,000 $20,000
Cond $5,000 $12,500 $13,500 $14,500 $15,500
Con $5,000(date) $13,000 $14,000 $15,000 $16,000
Cond Clm $10,000 $13,500 $14,500 $15,500 $16,500
Cond Clm $17,500 $16,000 $17,000 $18,000 $19,000
Cond Clm $25,000 $19,000 $20,000 $21,000 $22,000
Clm $5,000 $13,000 $14,000 $15,000 $16,000
Clm $7,500 $14,000 $15,000 $16,000 $17,000
Clm $10,000 $16,000 $17,000 $18,000 $19,000
Clm $14,000 $18,000 $19,000 $20,000 $21,000
Clm $18,000 $22,000 $23,000 $24,000 $25,000
Str/Hcp $15,000 $16,000 $17,000 $18,000
MSW $32,000 $34,000 $36,000 $38,000
MSW (IL) $33,000 $35,000 $37,000 $39,000
ALW NW1X $34,000 $36,000 $38,000 $40,000
ALW NW1X (IL) $35,000 $37,000 $39,000 $41,000
ALW NW2X $36,000 $38,000 $40,000 $42,000
ALW NW2X (IL) $37,000 $39,000 $41,000 $43,000
Opt $35,000 NW2X $36,000 $38,000 $40,000 $42,000
Opt $50,000 3yo $34,000 $36,000 $38,000 $40,000
Opt $80,000 NW3X $38,000 $40,000 $42,000 $44,000
In addition to the purse incentive, Hawthorne will also
provide larger field options for the first and second level allowance races
while providing Illinois-bred runners an opportunity to race for more
conditions. For the 2012 spring meet,
Illinois-bred runners that have won their first level Illinois allowance will still be eligible to
race for the open first level allowance.
Those Illinois-bred runners that have won the second level Illinois allowance will
be eligible to run in the open second level allowance race.
“This incentive can only help the horsemen, track and fans
alike,” stated Hawthorne Assistant General Manager Jim Miller. “For the
horsemen, if they are running against a larger field with more competition,
they should have the chance to race for more money. They will never run for less than the base
purse but for example, if a horse wins an allowance race against 11 other
starters, they deserve the additional $3,600 that would go to the winner’s
share.”
“For the track, along with the horsemen, we benefit from
larger fields as we will generate more handle which leads to larger commissions
and purses. And for the bettor, larger
fields are always the greatest incentive to wager upon a race as they provide
more wagering options and better value.”