Purses for Ohio horse races to take off briskly in 2015

Staff report

AUSTINTOWN

Purses for Ohio-bred horse races are up as the state’s racing program gets a boost from all seven racinos being open and running.

Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course is the only Ohio thoroughbred track racing right now.

The state’s racing program for 2014 “was approximately $2.5 million,” said Dave Basler, executive director of the Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. “The total program [in 2015] will be approximately $5.3 million.”

He added: “Not only did we think it could happen, we set aside 10 percent of the funding we receive from both Thistledown Racino and Mahoning Valley by contract for the Ohio Thoroughbred Fund. So that’s the reason why the thoroughbred fund is going up.”

According to the agreement between the OHBPA and Thistledown Racino, in the Cleveland area, and Hollywood Gaming, more than 10.5 percent of video lottery terminal revenue will be paid to the association. Of those funds, 80 percent will go toward purse amounts.

The purses went up Jan. 1 and there were more conditions, or specifications for a race, added for Ohio horsemen as the track settles in.

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