Spring racing is over in the Bluegrass as Keeneland ended its 16-day meet on
Saturday with record total attendance and the single-largest one-day crowd in
the 69-year history of the Central Kentucky track. The previous record of
232,826 patrons during the 2004 spring meet, which was one less day,
was eclipsed by more than 2,000 visitors in 2005, with total attendance reaching
235,220. The daily average was 14,701, second to last year’s record of 15,522.
On Blue Grass S. (G1) Day (April 16), Keeneland set an all-time record for a
single-day crowd with 33,621 racing fans visiting the Lexington oval, eclipsing
last year’s record of 31,028 for the same event.
Additionally, the Ashland S. (G1) on April 9 produced the third-largest crowd in Keeneland’s history with 30,110.
“The public’s response to the spring meeting was tremendous,” Keeneland
President Nick Nicholson said. “To set records for both total- and single-day
attendance confirms the ever-growing popularity of racing at Keeneland.”
The Blue Grass also set another record with $3,599,648 wagered on the race,
breaking the previous record of $3,516,621 set on April 13, 2002.
On-track betting totaled $27,635,729, an average of $1,727,233. Both figures
were just off last year’s record total of $28,010,988 and daily average of
$1,867,399.
The decision to drop numerous controversial off-shore account
wagering services resulted in a 9.3 percent decrease in all sources mutuel
handle, with $129,208,427 wagered in 2005 compared to $142,450,673 last year.
Subsequently, the average daily all sources handle was down 14.9 percent to
$8,075,527 compared to last year’s record of $9,496,712.
“Wagering on track remained solid and much of the decline off track can be
attributed to our decision to drop several simulcast outlets,” Nicholson
said. “We believe the short-term losses from this decision will result in
positives for Keeneland and the industry in the future.”
Yet another record was set when Keeneland distributed $10,227,276 in purses
for the spring meeting, an average of $639,205 per day.
The 2004 Eclipse Award winning trainer and jockey dominated the Keeneland
Spring Meet, with Pletcher saddling 16 winners and his go-to rider John
Velazquez taking the riding title after booting home 21 winners. Augustin Stable
and William S. Farish and partners tied for leading owner with four victories
each.
Racing resumes in Lexington on October 7.