Overnight purses in Maryland to increase 15% for remainder of year

Overnight purses in Maryland will increase 15% across the board for the remainder of 2021 effective July 2, the next live racing at Pimlico Race Course. The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Board of Directors unanimously approved the increase during its June 29 meeting.

The idea was to devise a higher purse schedule that Maryland can sustain through the end of the year.

The MTHA Board of Directors also voted to restore overnight purse distribution levels effective July 2. First place will be 60%, up from 57%; second place is 20%, down from 21%; third place is 10% rather than 11%; and fourth place will be 5% instead of 6%. Fifth place will be 3% (plus 1% for the fifth-through-last place bonus) and sixth place will be 2% (plus a 2% for the fifth-through-last place bonus). The 4% bonus remains in place for horses that finish seventh through last.

The Pimlico summer meet runs through Aug. 22 and Laurel is scheduled to begin its fall meet Sept. 10. In between, the Maryland State Fair at Timonium will race seven days from Aug. 27-Sept. 6. The increased purses will be in effect for the State Fair meet as well.