Delta Jackpot Now Worth 1 Million

After two years of paying a reduced purse on the Delta Jackpot race, the Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel has announced through its owner, Boyd Gaming Corp., that this year’s eighth edition will payout a purse of $1 million.

Since 2008, the purse has been valued at $750,000, however this year the purse is being increased in order to help the winner earn more graded stakes money to qualify for a starting position in the 2011 Kentucky Derby.

The Louisiana track will also host the race two weeks earlier on November 20, 2010 at 4 pm.

The increased purse makes the 2-year-old stakes Delta Jackpot the second in size of purses behind the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile worth $2 million.

“We are committed to making the $1 million Delta Jackpot one of the most important 2-year-old stakes on the national racing calendar,” said Paul Chakmak, chief operating officer of Boyd Gaming. “The late-November date and the $1 million purse will provide a path for a run at the 2011 Triple Crown.”