The Downs at Albuquerque Shows Increase
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The Downs at Albuquerque recorded increases in handle and purses during its Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse spring meet at the New Mexico track, which ended June 18.
Purses totaling $6,770,100 were paid to horsemen during the meet, an increase of 6.6% over the $6,351,254 paid during the first 39 days of the 2014 season, according to The Downs. During its spring meet, The Downs paid purses averaging $173,592 per day, compared with $162,853 during the first 39 days of the 2014 meet.
According to The Jockey Club Information Systems, Thoroughbred purses average $107,169 during the meet, with a daily average $72,215 for Quarter Horse races.
The track said increased quality of racing resulted in total handle of $8,087,614 ($207,375 per day), a 27.3% increase over the $6,351,254 ($165,683 per day) wagered on the track's live racing during the first 39 days of its 2014 meet.
"This meet was one of our safest meets in a long time when it came to horses and jockeys," said The Downs director of race operations Don Cook. "It was a tribute to our racing surface, which is one of the safest in the country, and to our horsemen and jockeys for taking care of themselves and their animals."
The Downs reported one of the largest crowds in recent track history were at the track on Belmont Stakes (gr. I) Day, with a crowd of 8,947 there in anticipation of witnessing the simulcast of American Pharoah's successful attempt to become Thoroughbred racing's first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
Justin Evans was The Downs' leading Thoroughbred trainer for the second consecutive season. Evans, 34, saddled the winners of 26 races from 121 starters, 10 more than runner-up Henry Dominguez. Percentage-wise, Joel Marr led all trainers with 20 or more starts, as his 36 starters won 13 races for a 36% win rate.
Ron Stephens, Wes Giles, and Adam Tapia each won eight races to lead all Quarter Horse trainers.
Alfredo Juarez Jr. led all Thoroughbred jockeys with 33 wins from 136 mounts, six more than runner-up Elvin Gonzalez. Jose Luis Enriquez led all Quarter Horse riders with 16 wins from 102 mounts, four more than Esgar Ramirez, who rode 12 winners from 67 mounts.
The Downs' leading Thoroughbred owner, Tom and Sandy McKenna's Judge Lanier Racing, won 10 races from 65 starters, five more than runners-up MCM Racing and Wayne Jenness. Pedro Carrillo led all Quarter Horse owners with seven wins from 29 starters, two more than runner-up Isaac Balderama.