Breeders' Cup Friday Sees Decline in Handle
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Photo: Keeneland/Coady Photography
The crowd at Keeneland Nov. 6 was limited because of COVID-19 protocols
With an on-track card largely limited to the connections of the horses competing, the opening day of this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland saw an 11% decline in handle compared with last year's record wagering.
All-sources handle for the 10-race program of the World Championships Nov. 6 was $50,285,986, down from last year's total of $56,517,228 at Santa Anita Park.
The Future Stars Friday card featured five Breeders' Cup races for 2-year-olds, the third consecutive year of grouping all the juvenile races on the same day since the event expanded to a two-day format in 2007.
No attendance figure was reported as tickets were not available for public sale and attendance was limited to participants and essential personnel because of COVID-19 safety measures established by Breeders' Cup and Keeneland.
On-track handle was $1,123,620. The on-track handle for the 2019 10-race opening day card at Santa Anita was $6,340,351.
Meanwhile, the race for the Bill Shoemaker Award, which goes to the jockey who rides the most winners in the 14 Breeders' Cup World Championship races, will come down to a Saturday scramble as five riders accounted for the five victories Friday.
The tiebreaker will be a 10-3-1 point system for second- through fourth-place finishes.
The winning riders Friday were Ricardo Santana Jr., Joel Rosario, Irad Ortiz Jr., Florent Geroux, and Luis Saez.
Breeders' Cup Friday
Year, site, attendance, handle
2020, Keeneland, limited attendance, $50,285,986
2019, Santa Anita, 41,243, $56,517,228
2018, Churchill Downs, 42,249; $53,636,272
2017, Del Mar, 32,728; $52,273,883
2016, Santa Anita, 45,673; $49,651,600
2015, Keeneland, 44,497; $44,949,165
2014, Santa Anita, 37,205; $47,666,982
2013, Santa Anita, 35,633; $52,594,370
2012, Santa Anita, 34,619; $48,997,009
2011, Churchill Downs, 40,677; $52,095,202
2010, Churchill Downs, 41,614; $54,889,388
2009, Santa Anita, 37,651; $50,662,945
2008, Santa Anita, 31,257; $49,473,304
2007, Monmouth Park, 27,803; $31,499,007