Ranking maiden purses by track, 2014 to 2024
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With the year starting to wind down, we wanted to check in and take a look at comparative purses by track. One good way to do that is looking at what each track offers for maiden special weight purses.
For this analysis, we also wanted to look back in time, so we listed 2014 in addition to the last three years to show the growth or decline since 2014. And the purse levels here are only for open, unrestricted maiden special weights. They do not include state-bred races or other restricted versions.
Kentucky purses soaring, Oaklawn too
It should come as no surprise to most everyone that Kentucky purses have skyrocketed since 2014, as have the purses as Oaklawn. In both of these cases, the increase are driven by historical racing slot-like machines.
Turfway and Churchill Downs purses have risen the most percentage-wise, with 207 percent and 172 percent increases, respectively. And Turfway's purse level of $70,000 reflects only racing through March of this year. Turfway opens in a little over two weeks, and maiden special weight purses are listed at $80,000 on the opening-night card on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
Rounding out Kentucky tracks, Ellis Park purses have grown by 130 percent, followed by Keeneland at 72 percent growth.
Oaklawn purses have grown 101 percent, and its maiden purses now rank third in the nation. The only other track that has more than doubled purses in this time is Tampa Bay Downs, which has seen 121 percent growth.
Kentucky Downs offers highest purses
In terms of highest maiden purses, Kentucky Downs leads the way. Not only have its maiden purses doubled in this time, but maiden special purses now sit at $170,000.
Maiden purses in North America 2014-2024
| Track | 2014 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | % vs. 2014 |
| KD | 85,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 | 170,000 | 100% |
| CD | 44,099 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 172% |
| OP | 57,658 | 88,453 | 95,862 | 115,778 | 101% |
| WO* | 55,900 | 124,807 | 111,600 | 111,300 | 99% |
| SAR | 84,870 | 105,000 | 136,500 | 100,000 | 18% |
| KEE | 56,369 | 98,769 | 97,313 | 96,812 | 72% |
| BEL/BAQ | 75,659 | 95,000 | 90,000 | 90,000 | 19% |
| AQU | 62,388 | 82,410 | 82,250 | 81,351 | 30% |
| GP | 44,355 | 57,123 | 67,720 | 73,818 | 66% |
| DMR | 69,617 | 77,015 | 75,862 | 72,226 | 4% |
| ELP | 30,875 | 59,254 | 84,362 | 71,000 | 130% |
| TP | 22,810 | 64,885 | 70,000 | 70,000 | 207% |
| CNL | - | 60,000 | 60,000 | 60,000 | |
| SA | 56,000 | 65,752 | 63,562 | 59,149 | 6% |
| FG | 42,015 | 50,182 | 54,000 | 56,897 | 35% |
| TAM | 23,940 | 30,070 | 33,394 | 53,000 | 121% |
| PRX | 45,071 | 47,508 | 53,431 | 51,694 | 15% |
| PIM | 40,556 | 52,399 | 55,279 | 51,558 | 27% |
| MTH | 37,873 | 56,285 | 56,589 | 50,253 | 33% |
| LRL | 40,227 | 54,038 | 54,579 | 49,548 | 23% |
| TIM | 30,000 | 50,463 | 49,650 | 46,140 | 54% |
| ZIA | 24,591 | 30,594 | 45,000 | 45,000 | 83% |
| LRC | 42,000 | 49,538 | 45,000 | 40,857 | -3% |
| DEL | 33,327 | 41,122 | 38,667 | 40,339 | 21% |
| MED | 25,000 | 40,700 | 36,360 | 36,000 | 44% |
| DED | 28,729 | 34,361 | 34,519 | 35,000 | 22% |
| PRM | 30,428 | 32,000 | 32,823 | 34,482 | 13% |
| LS | 20,000 | 33,870 | 33,012 | 34,081 | 70% |
| RP | 28,000 | 33,000 | 34,000 | 34,000 | 21% |
| HAW | 23,222 | 35,022 | 34,600 | 33,000 | 42% |
| HOU | 19,400 | 36,133 | 35,000 | 33,000 | 70% |
| FL | 19,491 | 30,622 | 32,100 | 32,600 | 67% |
| PEN | 30,111 | 27,100 | 27,100 | 32,305 | 7% |
| IND | 32,000 | 34,000 | 34,000 | 32,168 | 1% |
| EVD | 22,000 | 22,179 | 30,000 | 30,000 | 36% |
| PID | 32,057 | 33,813 | 30,000 | 30,000 | -6% |
| TUP | - | - | - | 30,000 | |
| CBY | 27,000 | 30,000 | 27,000 | 29,000 | 7% |
| SUN | 20,363 | 24,200 | 30,800 | 28,000 | 38% |
| CT | 25,568 | 32,266 | 29,503 | 26,555 | 4% |
| TDN | 19,842 | 26,400 | 26,400 | 26,400 | 33% |
| PLN | - | 26,000 | 26,000 | 25,625 | |
| CTD | - | - | 20,000 | 25,000 | |
| CTM | - | 17,000 | 20,000 | 25,000 | |
| FNO | 26,000 | 26,000 | 26,000 | 25,000 | -4% |
| SAC | 26,000 | 26,000 | 26,000 | 25,000 | -4% |
| SR | 26,000 | 26,000 | 26,000 | 25,000 | -4% |
| MVR | 12,500 | 24,300 | 24,300 | 24,300 | 94% |
| EMD | 17,850 | 24,000 | 24,000 | 24,000 | 34% |
| GG | 25,966 | 30,000 | 29,588 | 22,500 | -13% |
| WRD | 18,000 | 19,800 | 21,000 | 22,000 | 22% |
| FE | 16,320 | 21,168 | 21,600 | 21,633 | 33% |
| ASD | 12,000 | 18,574 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 67% |
| LAD | 20,217 | 19,622 | 26,000 | 19,000 | -6% |
| BTP | 12,173 | 16,850 | 16,217 | 16,700 | 37% |
| MNR | 18,707 | 16,500 | 16,500 | 16,500 | -12% |
| FAN | 8,679 | 11,417 | 12,242 | 12,804 | 48% |
| FON | 7,400 | 7,200 | 7,600 | 9,100 | 23% |
* Woodbine purses are listed in Canadian currency
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