Florence

Turfway Park ended its 2009 fall meet, which marked the track’s 50th anniversary, with a 16.1 percent decline in on-track handle. Track officials said the drop was likely attributable to economic conditions in the Northern Kentucky area, where unemployment is around 10 percent – nearly double what it was last fall. Daily purses averaged $128,001 this fall compared to $154,691 during the fall meet last year. To help support daily purses, the track this year eliminated four stakes races from its fall schedule and cut the purse for the Kentucky Cup Classic from $350,000 to $200,000.