There was a dose of positive news out of Kentucky earlier this week when Churchill Downs announced that the purse for the 2005 Kentucky Derby has been raised to $2 million. Only the news could have been even better. Even at $2 million, the Kentucky Derby's purse is far less than it should be. And what about the Preakness and Belmont? Why haven't Pimlico and Belmont officials announced similar purse increases?

To its credit, Churchill Downs has taken a step in the right direction. A $2 million purse is better than a $1 million purse. Still, it isn't good enough. The Kentucky Derby is the greatest race in the world and there's no reason why the purse should be significantly smaller than the $6 million Dubai World Cup, the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic and equal to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff and $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf. At the very least, the Kentucky Derby should be equal in purse value to the Breeders' Cup Classic, so that no race run in North America is richer.

Churchill Downs is in better financial shape than NYRA and the Maryland Jockey Club and the Kentucky Derby produces much more revenue than the other two Triple Crown races. Still, the final two legs of the Triple Crown should be worth more than $1 million, especially now that Churchill Downs has raised the bar. Finding the money to increase the Preakness and Belmont purses may not be easy, but it has to be done. Otherwise, the Derby will even further distance itself from its two Triple Crown partners as the greatest and most important race run in the country.

Just don't look for it to happen.

"We're not planning on raising the purse of the Belmont," NYRA Senior Vice President Bill Nader said. "Churchill Downs has the luxury of doing something like that and we don't. Notwithstanding a Belmont with a Triple Crown on the line, the Derby is the most popular race in the country. They require $25,000 to enter and another $25,000 to start. If they get a 20-horse field, that's $1 million right there. We get a smaller field and our fees to enter and start are much smaller."

Gulfstream quality on the slide?
Magna head honcho Frank Stronach can talk all he wants about reviving racing with state-of-the-art tracks that double as entertainment and shopping centers. He should be applauded for his vision. But Stronach and company had better put more emphasis into the quality of the racing product they are offering at Gulfstream Park. It is good racing that drives handle, not concerts or fancy clubhouses or tracks that have shopping malls along side.

Tracks usually like to put their best foot forward on opening day, but Gulfstream offered one of the worst cards there in recent memory when it kicked off its 2005 season. There were two maiden claiming races and four claiming races with tags of $30,000 or less. There were no stakes. It didn't get any better on Jan. 6, Day 2, when the day began with an $8,000 claimer, a $25,000 maiden claimer and a $25,000 claimer. The rest of the card included a $16,000 claimer, an $11,000 claimer and a $30,000 claimer.

The total purses at Gulfstream on Jan. 6 amounted to $209,000 for a 10-race card. Aqueduct's nine-race card was worth $309,000. Worse yet, Charles Town almost equaled the Gulfstream product when it comes to purses. Over 10 races, they gave away $193,800 Jan. 6 at Charles Town.

Slot machines would obviously help and the new one-mile turf course will allow the track to card more grass races, another plus. But how much longer can the type of top stables and horses that Gulfstream attracts be expected to compete for such poor purses?

A gambler who really believes in himself
Arthur Best, who lives in Shrewsbury, England, had more than a birthday to celebrate on Jan. 2 when he turned 100. According to BBC News, Best wagered 109 pounds when he was 90 with the William Hill bookmaking firm, betting that he would live to be 100. He was given odds of 66-1 and collected 7,303 pounds.

William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe told the BBC, "It proved to be an inspired bet and now he's got plenty for celebrations." Sharpe said that William Hill will book about 12 such bets a year and offers different odds depending on the individual."