Remington Park Sees Decrease in Pari-Mutuel Handle

Remington Park completed the 2023 Thoroughbred Season on Dec. 16, a day after Otto the Conqueror won a nearly race-long battle with Glengarry to win the $300,000 Springboard Mile, earning 10 qualifying points for the 2024 Kentucky Derby. 

Remington Park also enjoyed a new record pari-mutuel handle day on Sept. 24 when a 10-race card produced wagering of $4,128,147. That card was headlined by the thrilling Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby won buy How Did He Do That in a three-way nose photo. 

The 67-date season finished with a decrease in pari-mutuel handle on Remington Park. A total of $82,494,143 was bet on Remington Park throughout the season, lower by 3.8% from the 2023 total of $85,761,277.

Export handle from outside Remington Park provided the largest portion of the handle at $79,426,201. That is a 3.7% decrease from the 2022 export handle total of $82,494,002.

Remington Park controlled handle, on-track and one off-track site, was $3,067,942, down 6% from a year ago when $3,267,225 was played. 

Remington Park contested 605 races this season, five more than in 2022. Despite the slight increase in total races the number of turf events was significantly lower. The turf course held up beautifully from the opening of the season on Aug. 18 until the final race over the lawn on Nov. 11. However, only 92 races were run over the turf this season compared to 108 a year ago. The races were forced off the turf due to rain or the course being too damp on 10 of the possible 48 race dates when it was schedule to be utilized.

The total purses for the season of $15,847,215 produced a daily average of $236,525. A total of 4,767 horses competed in the 605 events for an average field size per race of 7.9.

Remington Park racing is now on hiatus until action begins in 2024. The American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season runs March 7 to June 1. The Thoroughbreds return from Aug. 16 to Dec. 13.