All-Sources Wagering on Kentucky Oaks up From Last Year
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Photo: Jonathan Palmer
The Kentucky Oaks field heads for home at Churchill Downs
In a transition year, all-sources handle for Kentucky Oaks Day rebounded to nearly its record 2019 level, despite a deliberately smaller crowd Friday of 41,472 that was a precaution against the spread of COVID-19.
Wagering from all-sources on the full Kentucky Oaks Day race card totaled $54.3 million, up 76% compared with the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, according to a release by Churchill Downs Inc. The Oaks Day record was reached in 2019 when $60.2 million was wagered.
All-sources wagering on this year's $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) race won by favored Malathaat was $17.4 million, up 74% from last year's Oaks race. That improved figure also was much closer to 2019's record $19.4 million.
"Today we celebrate Malathaat and her connections, but also the fans who joined us to enjoy this beautiful day of racing," Churchill Downs track president Mike Anderson said in the statement. "The success of the 147th Kentucky Oaks is a tribute to the team at Churchill Downs, our community partners, sponsors, and participants who worked tirelessly to ensure that we could safely and responsibly welcome back the fans that are an essential part of this great tradition."
The rebound to nearly normal came despite having far fewer people on track than normal. The 2019 Oaks crowd was 105,719, more than double this year's attendance-limited total. No fans were allowed to attend last year's Oaks; only horsemen and media.