Claiming Crown Handle Tops $10 Million
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Total handle on the 17th edition of the Claiming Crown, contested for the fourth year Dec. 5 at Gulfstream Park, was $10.12 million, up 0.6% from 2014.
The uptick in handle comes despite rainy conditions, a sloppy track, and four races being moved to the main track due to conditon of the turf course.
Gulfstream's opening-day card had 11 races compared with 10 in 2014 and was anchored by the nine-race Claiming Crown program.
"We're extremely pleased with the success of Saturday's Claiming Crown," said P.J. Campo, general manager of Gulfstream Park and vice president of racing for Gulfstream parent company The Stronach Group. "We had big fields and tremendous participation from horsemen throughout North America. We're confident the numbers would have been even more impressive with a fast track and firm turf course."