Purse increases for New York stakes

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Ozone Park, NY (Sports Network) - The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has released it's schedule of stakes races for this year's Belmont Park spring and Saratoga Race Course meets. Both meetings will have boosts to purses for all levels of races.

"The purse increases for overnight and stakes races for the upcoming Belmont Park and Saratoga meets confirm NYRA's leadership position in thoroughbred racing," said NYRA Vice President and Director of Racing P. J. Campo. "The enhanced purses should result in larger field sizes, stimulate additional wagering activity, and increase profitability for NYRA."

While the purse for the June 9 Belmont Stakes remains at $1 million, the Met Mile on Memorial Day will have an increase of $250,000 to $750,000.

Saratoga's King's Bishop for three-year-olds is having its purse doubled to $500,000 and the Personal Ensign for fillies and mares is also seeing a 100 percent raise to $600,000.

Belmont Park's 56 day spring/summer meet begins April 28 and Saratoga will get underway July 20 with 40 race days ending on Labor Day.