Breeders' Cup Reports Record Handle on 2022 Races

Total all-sources, global common-pool handle for the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 4-5 at Keeneland reached $189,060,373, a record for the two-day event.

The total represents a 3.4% increase over the prior record of $182,908,409 set last year when the event was held at Del Mar. This year's handle represents an 18% increase from the total handle of $160,472,893 the previous time the event was held at Keeneland in 2020. 

Total common-pool handle on the 12-race Breeders' Cup card Saturday, Nov. 5, was a record $122,918,607 compared with last year's $121,562,392, which was the previous record. 

All-sources handle for the 10-race "Future Stars Friday" program reached $66,141,766, up 7% over the previous Friday record of $61,696,893 set last year at Del Mar. It was the fifth year of carding all of the juvenile races on the same day since the event expanded to its two-day format in 2007.

"We witnessed a spectacular two days of racing capped by Flightline 's absolute brilliance in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), once again showcasing the best Thoroughbreds from around the world and we want to thank our partners here at Keeneland, who did a phenomenal job, and the greater Lexington community," said Breeders' Cup president and CEO Drew Fleming. "The Breeders' Cup is truly an international championship event and the very best our sport has to offer."

This was the first Breeders' Cup since 2019 without crowd limitations because of the COVID-19 pandemic. On-track handle for the two days at Keeneland was $20,822,213, up from last year's $19,032,307 at Del Mar.

Keeneland on-track attendance for Saturday was 45,973, compared with 26,553 at Del Mar last year. The two-day attendance at Keeneland was 85,824.

This year's event marked the third time Keeneland has hosted Breeders' Cup. The 2015 cup saw two-day handle of $149,869,035 and attendance of 94,652. The 2020 event saw limited attendance because of COVID. Breeders' Cup officials pledged after that 2020 event, as a makeup of sorts, to return to Keeneland as soon as the schedule allowed.

The Breeders' Cup will return to Santa Anita Park in 2023 for the 40th running.