GROSS PURSES

Gross purses in North America once again reached record levels in 2007. The opening of Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania and the contribution to purses from alternative gaming at tracks in a number of states drove much of the increase. Presque Isle Downs offered nearly $11 million in purses during its inaugural meet in 2007, which, when coupled with the contribution to purses from the first full year of slot machine gaming at Philadelphia Park, paved the way for a 77.8% increase in available purse money in Pennsylvania from 2006 to 2007. Proceeds from alternative gaming also helped fuel a 26.9% increase in purses in Louisiana and a 16.6% increase in purses in Oklahoma.

Gross Purses

Gross Purses by State or Province 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001
Comparison of Gross Purses 2007/2008

YEAR

UNITED STATES*

PERCENT CHANGE

CANADA*

PUERTO
RICO*

 TOTAL*

TOTAL PERCENT CHANGE

   1988

       676.8

 +3.4

          65.3

 11.1 753.2 0.0
1989 706.9 +4.4

          68.8

12.3 788.0 +4.6
1990 714.5 +1.1

          69.6

12.4 796.5 +1.1
1991 698.7 -2.2

          65.2

12.6 776.5 -2.5
1992 709.6 +1.6

          68.4

13.6 791.6 +1.9
1993 692.1 -2.5

          63.2

14.4 769.7 -2.8
1994 718.4 +3.8

          64.0

14.8 797.2 +3.6
1995 761.6 +6.0

          74.7

15.9 852.2 +6.9
1996 792.7 +4.1

          86.3#

 18.0 897.0 +5.3
1997 851.5 +7.4

          68.7

18.2 938.4 +4.6
1998 904.0 +6.2

          74.3

15.2 993.5 +5.9
1999 962.9 +6.5

          87.7

16.1 1,066.7 +7.4
2000 1,030.9 +7.1

        114.9

 18.8 1,164.6 +9.2
2001 1,067.5 +3.6

        131.9

 19.5 1,218.9 +4.7
2002 1,074.2 +0.6

        149.1

 19.1 1,242.4 +1.9
2003 1,055.5 -1.7

        150.4

 18.7 1,224.6 -1.4
2004 1,092.1 +3.5

        136.0

 18.9 1,246.9 +1.8
2005 1,085.0 -0.7

        113.4

 20.4 1,218.8 -2.3
2006 1,120.4 +3.3

        121.6

 20.4 1,262.3 +3.6
2007 1,180.6 +5.4

        127.6

 19.8 1,328.0 +5.2

 

* Dollars in millions      

# Includes Breeders' Cup Day at Woodbine  

  

Beginning in 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.

Sources: Equibase Company LLC and Hipodromo Camarero      

 

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 $3.8 million in 2007.