Remington Park Handle Continues Upward Trend

The 2019 Remington Park Thoroughbred season concluded Dec. 15 and again experienced increases in total pari-mutuel handle for the 67-date schedule, the track announced Dec. 19. 

Total handle on Remington Park racing was $76,885,108, up 7.1% compared to 2018 when the Thoroughbred season generated $71,798,190. It marked the third consecutive season the Oklahoma track's handle increased over the previous year.

The rise was driven by a third straight season with increased export handle. There was $73,472,573 wagered from other jurisdictions in 2019, an 8% jump over the $68,021,279 bet in 2018.

The lone Remington Park off-track location, Thunder Roadhouse in Oklahoma City, realized an increase of 21.4% this season on live racing as handle reached $195,661. The 2018 season generated $161,132.

The Remington Park season was highlighted by multiple stakes events, including Sept. 29 Oklahoma Derby Day (with eight stakes); Oct. 18 Oklahoma Classics Night (with eight stakes); and Dec. 15 Springboard Mile Day (with six stakes). 

The Oklahoma Derby Day card set an all-time handle record of $3,086,572. The record lasted until topped on the Springboard Mile Day program when $3,365,368 was bet. Both dates featured 13-race programs.

Remington Park's daily average handle was $1,147,539, up from the 2018 daily average of $1,071,615.

"Horseplayers everywhere continue to recognize the value of the Remington Park Thoroughbred racing product and have helped us maintain our upward trajectory," said Scott Wells, Remington Park's president and general manager. "We are extremely appreciative of our horsemen and our racing department for their collaboration in making this one of our most successful seasons ever, capping it off with an all-time record day."

Oklahoma Derby (G3) winner Owendale, Remington Park Oaks (G3) victress Lady Apple, and Remington Springboard Mile Stakes winner Shoplifted took the top races of the season. Shoplifted gained 10 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Remington Park's top 2-year-old stakes race, the Springboard has produced Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) starters from three of its past four editions.

"Remington Park continues to feature top competition throughout the season, especially in our premier graded stakes races and the Springboard Mile," noted Matt Vance, Remington Park's vice president of racing operations. "Once again, local Oklahoma-bred heroes Welder and Shotgun Kowboy thrilled our fans with great performances." 

Welder made a strong bid for his second consecutive "Horse of the Meeting" title by winning four straight races, including a track-record-setting romp in the $150,000 David M. Vance Stakes against open-company opponents. Shotgun Kowboy won his fourth edition of the $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup Stakes, becoming the first horse to win the top race for Oklahoma-breds that many times.

There were 604 races conducted in 2019, compared to the 609 contested in 2018. The average field size for 2019 dropped 3.3% to 8.71 per race with 5,259 total starters. The 2018 average field size was 9.01 per race from 5,490 total starters.

"Although we faced a few challenges that affected field size, we still held strong with very positive results from our simulcast players across the country," Vance said. 

Total horsemen's purses continue to grow for the Remington Park Thoroughbred season with $16,971,799 paid in 2019. The daily average was $253,310, up 2.2% compared to the average per day from the 2018 season of the same length, $247,791, from an overall total last year of $16,602,025.

After enjoying an increase last year, on-track live handle slid in 2019 with $3,216,874 wagered, down 11% from $3,615,779 bet in 2018.