Kentucky Downs concluded an historic season on Wednesday, when
live all-sources handle soared to $3,371,476, an all-time
record and a 117 percent increase over the final day in 2012.
For its five days of live racing, from all sources,
Kentucky Downs handled $12,814,966, an all-time record and an increase of 69.3
percent from a year ago. On-track handle of $645,343 increased 17 percent over
2012.
“This season showed what can be accomplished when we all
work together,” said Corey Johnsen, Kentucky Downs’ president. “We were proud to
offer quality racing with a low takeout, and horseplayers responded with record
handle.”
Kentucky Downs paid out $4,121,142 in purses and Kentucky
Thoroughbred Development Fund money. That established a record for the racetrack
and represented an increase of 103.9 percent percent from a year ago. The purses were
augmented by revenue derived from pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse
races, which accounted for more than 70 percent of the total.
Beyond the numbers, the season also succeeded in establishing the Franklin,
Kentucky, racetrack in the popular awareness and putting it
in the national spotlight.
Rosie Napravnik, who’s the fifth leading jockey in
the country, topped the Kentucky Downs’ standings with eight wins. In his first
trip around the unique course, Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens rode the winner
of the Kentucky Turf Cup, Temeraine.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who were the
leading owners at the recently concluded Saratoga meeting, topped the Kentucky
Downs standings with a record nine wins. And Wayne Catalano, who sits securely
atop the trainers’ standings at Arlington near Chicago, assumed the same
position here with 10 victories.
“What impressed me most about the season,” Johnsen said,
“was that we had top quality horses, trainers and jockeys from all over the
country. And, in my opinion, we had some terrific races, showcasing our great
sport at the highest level.”
The numbers:
| Live All Sources Handle | $12,814,966 | +69 percent | ||
| Live On Track Handle | $645,343 | +17 percent | ||
| Purses/KTDF Paid | $4,121,142 | +103.9 percent | ||
| Average Horses per Race | 9.96 |
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