New purse increases announced by State Minister of Finance Arthur Williams on September 16 take effect tomorrow at Caymanas Park and, according to Jamaica Racehorse Trainers' Association president Vin Edwards, it is a welcome relief.

The $110 million allocation from Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) will see purses for two- and three-year-old races going up by 30 per cent, stakes and other races by 20 per cent and appearance fees moving from $2,500 to $3,500.

At the recent press conference at which the introduction of Sunday racing was announced by CTL's chairman Tony Hart, Senator Williams further disclosed that the purse for the Jamaica Derby will move from $5 million to $9 million

"We got what we asked for earlier this year," said Edwards, speaking on behalf of the stakeholders. "We are satisfied for now, but we are still worried about the sustainability of the increase of purses in the future, owing to the economic climate."

Edwards recalled that last year the stakeholders rejected $40 million offered by the Pat Rousseau-led board of CTL as being grossly inadequate.

"It is good to see that this new board has addressed the problem against the background of a tight monetary situation," said the trainer.