Fair Grounds concluded its 133rd season of racing, and its first under
ownership of Churchill Downs, on Sunday with increases in average all-sources
and on-track wagering.
The highlight of the meet came on March 12 when High Limit (Maria’s Mon)
captured the Louisiana Derby (G2) and moved his record to three-for-three. A
record $11,310,990 was wagered on the 11-race card, which was the richest day in
Louisiana racing history. A total of $2,972,213 was wagered on the Louisiana
Derby, the most ever for a single Fair Grounds race, and on-track records were
set for Louisiana Derby Day attendance (6,672) and for handle ($866,466) in the
simulcast era.
During the 82-day meet, a total of $343.1 million was wagered compared to
$317.1 million last season, which conducted two less racing days. The daily
average of $4.18 million increased 5.6 percent over last year’s average of $3.96
million. On-track wagering equaled $18.1 million, or $221,481 per day,
representing a jump of 2.5 percent on 2004 when on-track wagering totaled $17.3
million with a $216,082 daily average.
The average daily attendance of 2,104 dropped 4.4 percent from last year’s
average of 2,202. Fair Grounds officials attribute the decline to two factors —
a policy change that allowed children under 12 to be admitted free and not
included in the attendance count as well as three additional weekdays on the
schedule when there was a 7 percent drop in weekday attendance.
“This has been a very satisfying season,” said Randall Soth, who was
appointed the new president and general manager at the New Orleans track. “With
the sale (to Churchill) not being completed until six weeks before opening day,
we had to go on the fast track to complete the preparations, but out staff
stepped up to allow for a smooth transition and make sure this season was a
success.”
Purse distribution for the meet averaged $267,784 per day and showed a 3.1
percent increase over last year’s $259,641 daily average. Total purse distribution
equaled $21.9 million compared to $20.7 million for the 2003-2004 season.
Jockey Robby Albarado capped off his sixth Fair Grounds riding title with
101 wins and tied his record for stakes wins set last year with 13. Steven Asmussen saddled 67 winners to earn his fifth consecutive trainer’s title, the
longest such streak since Jack Van Berg won the first six of his record 10 Fair
Grounds training titles from 1966-1971. Michael Gill captured the owner’s title
with 43 victories, the most since the track began keeping owner statistics in
1991-1992.