'Susan' Day Handle, Attendance Well Up
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The Maryland Jockey Club announced that the total handle for its May 15 card at Pimlico Race Course, which featured the Black-Eyed Susan (gr. II), was $18.5 million, the highest total handle for the card in 10 years and topping last year's handle of $11.3 million by 63%.
The $18.5 million total handle on Friday's 14-race card also topped 2013's total handle of $12.5 million.
Total attendance was 42,700, compared with last year's total attendance of 34,736, an increase of 23%, the MJC said.
"Black-Eyed Susan Day was a tremendous success," said MJC vice president and general manager Sal Sinatra. "From early this morning to this evening, our fans celebrated a great day of racing, the strength and spirit of women, and some amazing performances by our equine and human athletes.
"None of this is possible without our great fans, our horsemen, and the city of Baltimore. We look forward to an exciting 140th Preakness Saturday."