"Our quality of racing will continue to decline as other states' innovations lead to higher purses," he said.

The deal, in essence, works like this: In exchange for the association helping to sell tickets, each fighter receives a higher purse.

This year, depending on bonus money, the total purse could exceed $20 million, the highest annual purse in sports.

The daily racing fare picked up a bit toward the end of the stands, as higher purses began drawing runners from the Meadowlands.

The extra revenue enables track owners to offer higher purses for horse racing.

It is the racetrack's signature event offering its highest purse at $500,000.

He often played for purses as high as $300, a sizable amount in that era.

You've just got horses in different stages of development with different choices available and high purses on all sides.

Martin commands a higher purse than that and has signed a multifight contract with King, but she is the exception.

Zuckerman also spoke about the need for higher purses and safer tracks.