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by Frank Salive, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL --- Starting with the Friday evening, Feb. 26 program, increases to the purse structure affecting almost all classes of races will be in effect at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. "This is our final purse increase for the 2009-2010 meet through to May 22," the Isle's Director of Racing Operations, John Yinger, said. "We are really pleased to implement this, and it reflects the positive handle trend continuing which we first started to notice at the end of December. Certainly, a component of that is the encouraging recent upswings we're seeing for live, on-track handle and attendance.

“Our move to Saturday evening twin programs, with increased interaction for our on-track fans in handicapping contests and the like, is really being well received," Yinger added.

The most noticeable increase on the Feb. 26 program will be found in the third race, the Fillies and Mares Open Handicap pace, for a purse of $15,000.

That's an increase of more than 15 percent from the previous purse of $13,000 for the top weekly distaff class in South Florida. A duplicate increase is in store on Saturday evening when the Open Handicap trot turns to the gate for a $15,000 purse.

In addition to the purse hikes for the top classes, purse increases of about nine percent or more has gone into effect for conditioned and claiming races. Events for $4,000 claimers on both gaits, which previously went for $3,500 purses, will now be contested for $3,800. Events for $6,000 claimers, which previously went for $4,000 purses, will now turn to the gate with $4,400 on the line. Similar percentage increases are also going into effect for almost all conditioned races offered at the track.

Out of competition testing coming to South Florida

Following this weekend's round of purse increases is next week's implementation of out of competition testing for Standardbred racing in South Florida at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.

"The Isle, with the assistance of Dr. Richard Sams and the testing labs in Gainesville, Fla., will begin out of competition testing next week," Yinger said. "We feel this is a great step to ensure a level playing field for everyone. It reinforces our commitment to harness racing, and to the integrity of racing, for the longer term future, too.

"This, I believe, will be well received here by our horsepeople and patrons alike, as it previously was in jurisdictions such as New Jersey and Delaware." he added.

Post time on Friday evening, Feb. 26, at the Isle will be at 7:05 p.m., eastern. In addition to the Fillies and Mares Open Handicap pace, for a $15,000 purse, Friday's card will also see a Mares Open Handicap II pace and Mares Open Handicap III pace turn to the gate for purses of $10,000 and $7,000, respectively.