Triple Crown Enriched

The total purse for thoroughbred racing’s Visa Triple Crown Challenge has been raised to $3 million guaranteed.

Purses for the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, the final two jewels of the Triple Crown, are being boosted from $500,000 to $1 million guaranteed, Triple Crown Productions announced.

The NYRA board of trustees approved the Belmont purse increase and Pimlico officials did likewise for the Preakness.

Churchill Downs was the first to raise its purse. The Kentucky Derby became a $1 million event in 1996.

On top of the $3 million in guaranteed purses, the program offers an additional $5 million bonus to the owner of any horse that wins all three races.