Thoroughbred Group Increasing Purses to Offset Comp Costs

Wednesday, January 8, 2020 | 0

Thoroughbred Owners of California announced that participation purses will increase significantly in 2020, in part to offset increased workers’ compensation costs.

The organization said guaranteed participation purses in Southern California will increase to $500 per start from $351, while the guaranteed payout at Golden Gate Fields will increase to $450 from $300.

Guaranteed purses are intended to help owners cover the basic costs of racing, which includes a per-start fee to provide workers’ compensation coverage that increased more than 13% in 2020.

“As a result of major increases in workers’ compensation insurance costs in California, it was necessary to increase the per-start fee from $106 to $120 — which covers the owners’ portion of funding for the program,” Thoroughbred Owners of California said in a statement.