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Calder Race Course to reduce purses

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Lower than expected business levels have prompted Calder Race Course to reduce its daily purse outlay by approximately $10,000 beginning with the races scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 15. Entries for those races will be taken on Saturday, Nov. 10. The adjustment is necessary to prevent an overpayment of purses. Purse levels will continue to be monitored as the season progresses and further adjustments could be made accordingly. The Tropical Meet runs through Jan. 2, 2008.

In addition, two of the meet's $100,000 stakes races will be cancelled: the Kris S. Stakes and the Cherokee Frolic Stakes, both originally scheduled for Dec. 8. The two turf stakes are for 2 year olds and 2-year-old fillies, respectively, and are considered prep races for the Tropical Park Derby (G3) and Tropical Park Oaks, both to be run on turf on New Year's Day. Also, purses for overnight stakes and handicaps will now be set at $35,000, down from their original value of $50,000.

Calder President Ken Dunn cited poor weather conditions during the first part of the Tropical Meet that forced a considerable number of turf races off the grass as a significant factor in the early business levels of the meet, which opened on Oct. 15.

Calder Race Course, located on South Florida's Miami-Dade / Broward county line, offers Thoroughbred horse racing and wholecard simulcasting during two consecutive meets. The track is home of the Summit of Speed, Juvenile Showcase, Festival of the Sun, Florida Million and Grand Slam series of events. A wholly owned property of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), Calder also operates the Tropical at Calder Meet. In 2007, the Calder Meet runs from April 25 through Oct. 14 and the Tropical at Calder Meet runs from Oct. 15 through Jan. 2, 2008.

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