by Frank Angst

Ohio horsemen believe a 15% purse cut at River Downs is in line with a loss in purse revenue caused by several factors.

Dave Basler, executive director of the Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, said horsemen understood the need for the cut because of several factors.

The Cincinnati track has not been able to offer the Belmont Park simulcast signal this year, which is costing the purse fund $3,100 a day. Basler also said on-track handle is down and Ohio horsemen have refused to allow River Downs to send its signal to many of the top advance deposit wagering outlets.

Similar ADW disputes are being contested in Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Purses have been cut at Calder Race Course, Lone Star Park, and Churchill Downs. Kentucky horsemen said Churchill’s 20% reduction of overnight purses is designed to punish horsemen for their decision to block the signal and is out of line with an actual drop in handle of less than 1%.

In Ohio, Basler said he did not think the 15% cut by River Downs was retaliatory because other factors are involved. River Downs is part of the Southern Racing Cooperative, which has failed to reach an agreement with the New York Racing Association on the Belmont signal. NYRA is seeking a fee increase for its simulcast signal.

“Besides losing the money on the Belmont signal itself, we’re also losing players altogether. Turfway Park is close to River Downs. If someone wants to play the simulcasts and bet on Belmont, they’ll just go there,” Basler said.

Other Southern Racing Cooperative members that offer Thoroughbred racing include Beulah Park, Delta Downs, the Downs at Albuquerque, Ruidoso Downs, Sunland Park, Sun Ray Park, and Zia Park, Fonner Park, Horsemen's Park, Retama Park, Sam Houston Race Park, Tampa Bay Downs, Turf Paradise, and The Woodlands. The cooperative also includes some Standardbred and Greyhound tracks.

On May 8, the Mid-Atlantic Cooperative, which represents 16 East Coast tracks, reached an agreement with NYRA.

Frank Angst is senior writer of Thoroughbred Times