JC / Railbird

The median purse per race — the middle number that factors out top-heavy prize money from the Sunshine Millions and other stakes — has fallen from $30,000 in 1999 to $17,500 in 2006.

Thus, from 1999 to 2006, average daily purses are down 7.7%, average purse per race is down 2.2%, and median purse per race is down 41.7%. Factors that account for varying rates of decline from 1999 to 2006 are fewer races per day and heavier concentration of money into the stakes program….

Owners racing at Florida’s two other tracks have benefited from purse increases since 1999. Daily average purses at Calder grew 14.3%, reaching $226,638 in 2005. Median purse per race, however, has remained a constant $17,000.

Tampa Bay Downs is one of racing’s true success stories — and one that isn’t driven by revenue from slot machines. Daily average purses there have grown 81.9% since the 1998-99 season, with the median purse per race up 58.7%. Tampa Bay’s current meeting is offering daily average purses of $157,451 and a median purse per race of $11,900.