TAMPA BAY — Tampa Bay Downs will allocate $5.5-million from the state of Florida for overnight Thoroughbred purses during the 2023-2024 meet, track Vice President-General Manager Peter Berube announced. The money will boost purses for all non-stakes races, from lower-level claiming events through allowance races.

Purses for all maiden special weight races will jump to $35,000 (including $3,000 in Florida Owners’ Awards funds) from last season’s figure of $27,000. Purses for higher-level allowance events will rise to $36,500 from $28,500. The average daily overnight purses are projected to be $200,000 per day, with the bottom purse $17,000.

The funds are part of a $55-million tax package that cleared both chambers of the Florida Legislature in May and was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Read the full story by Mike Henry/Tampa Bay Downs here.