Portland Meadows Reports Handle Increases
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Portland Meadows concluded its 2014-15 meet Feb. 10 with increases in overall and in-state handle during the 36-day stand, and a slight decrease in purses.
The Oregon track, which also offers Instant Racing, reported average all-sources handle was $490,610 per race day, a 7.14% increase over the daily average of $457,924 during its 49-day meet in 2013-14. In-state handle was up 8.08% to $42,634, up from last year's average of $39,445 per race day. Export wagering increased 7.05% each race day to $447,976 from last year's average of $418,479.
"We had success with large crowds on big event days and we are very pleased with the year over year increases in daily average in-state handle," said general manager Will Alempijevic. "It was also great to see horseplayers from all over respond to our new schedule as export sales were strong on both Tuesday and Sunday race days."
A total of $2,016,800 was paid in out in purses during the season for an average purse payout of $56,022 per race day, a slight decrease from last season's per race day payout of $56,372.
The average number of starters per race increased for the second straight season to 7.61 horses per race, up from 7.55 last season and 6.72 in 2012.
On the track, jockey Leonel Camacho-Flores took home his first riding title as he led the Thoroughbred standings with 70 wins. Rigoberto Velasquez had 43 wins to win the Thoroughbred training title.
Luis Gonzalez was the leading Quarter Horse rider with 19 scores, while Nick Lowe was the leading trainer with 12 wins.