Handle Declined, Purses Rose at Churchill

Average daily all-sources and on-track pari-mutuel handle fell while average daily purses and field size rose during the 11-day September at Churchill Downs that ended Sept. 27.

According to numbers provided by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, Churchill handle totaled $33,217,607, compared with $38,810,285 for the 12-day meet in 2014. The daily average all-sources handle of $3,019,782 represented a 6.6% decline from the $3,234,160 average a year ago. Average daily on-track wagering of $314,299 was down 9.76% from 2014.

Churchill Downs Inc.-owned tracks do not release wagering or attendance figures, but report handle to regulators in the respective states in which they operate.

According to The Jockey Club Information Systems, average field size rose from 7.70 runners per race last year to 7.99 this year. Purses averaged $327,618 per day in 2015, compared with $322,032 a year ago.

This year marked the third since Churchill took over the September dates previously held by Turfway Park.

"Our third September meet at Churchill Downs was solid by any measure, and we appreciate the support of racing fans and our horsemen who helped make the meet a success during a time on the calendar that is packed with other attractive events and activities in our community and region," Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs, said in a release. "This still-new product faces many competitive challenges, but we knew that was likely when we responded to our owners and trainers to work together and create a September meet that would fill a growing gap in Kentucky's racing schedule and create more opportunities for both horsemen and fans.

"Each group is becoming better acquainted and more enthusiastic about our September racing offerings and patron experience, and we look forward to ongoing efforts to strengthen this growing product."

The meet that opened Sept. 11 included one fewer racing day than the meets of the previous two years and was conducted for the first time over a three-week period. The earlier September racing schedules in 2013 and 2014 featured four three-day racing weeks, but the 2015 schedule was altered to accommodate the fall racing session at Keeneland and the Breeders' Cup World Championships at the Lexington track Oct. 30-31.

Churchill's 21-date fall meet will run from Nov. 1-29, with a Wednesday-Sunday schedule.