Quote:
Originally Posted by Cholly
There's a structural impediment involved here: 80% of the purse money is tied up in only two finishers. When running 4th doesn't pay shit, who in their right mind is going to enter a 10-horse race?
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Until the early '70s, it was
85% tied up in only two finishers at most tracks (65% first, 20% second, 10% third, 5% fourth).
A couple of years ago, NYRA changed their purse-distribution format to 55% first, 20% second, 12% third, 6% fourth, 4% fifth, with the remaining 3% to be divided evenly among the remaining finishers (but DNFs receive nothing).
At this year's Saudi Cup, the purse distribution was 50% first, 17% second, 10% third, 7.5% fourth, 5% fifth, 3% sixth, 2.5% seventh, 2% eighth, 1.5% ninth, and 1% tenth (change 4th to 7% and 6th to 3.5% and it would be perfect).
Then add a "starter's bonus" equal to the "losing" jockey mount fee plus $10 (you can also pay the jockeys who finish 4th through 10th the losing jockey mount fee plus 2% of the purse earned by the owner) and you have a working format.
