NEW YORK, May 3: Total purses for the Breeders' Cup world championships have been increased by $6 million from last year to $20 million, officials announced Tuesday.

Seven of the eight Breeders' Cup races will have higher purses this year, said officials with Breeders' Cup Limited and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

“Raising the purses to unprecedented levels makes the Breeders' Cup property more valuable than at any time in our history,” said D.G. Van Clief, Jr., Breeders' Cup president and NTRA commissioner.

“We feel that these purse increases will further strengthen domestic and international participation in our races.”

The Breeders' Cup Classic, North America's richest race, will receive a $1 million purse hike to $5 million in 2006.

This year's Breeders' Cup will be held on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.—Reuters