Those fees are added to the money the track contributes to the purse. The track handicapper assigns the weights to be carried in handicap races, attempting to level the playing field among the participants. The main difference between an overnight stakes race and a stakes race is the amount of fees a trainer entering his horse in the race pays to compete. Overnight stakes do not require nomination, entry and starting fees. Nomination for overnight stakes are generally taken up to a week before the race.
Overnight stakes bring out quality horses to compete for excellent purse money.
Claiming Race Any horse entered in a claiming race is subject to purchase, for the amount for which the horse is entered, by any owner who has started a horse at that particular race meeting. In some such races the claiming price will have a range of several thousand dollars with weight allowances made for horses entered at the lower prices. The claiming race is a method of classifying horses in order to produce races involving competition of equal ability. Starter Allowance Race Starter allowance races combine the elements of claiming and allowance races to provide a unique and highly competitive contest. All entered horses in a starter allowance must have run in a claiming race during a designated amount of time.