Attendance, Total Handle Up for Preakness Day
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The Maryland Jockey Club reported record attendance for the May 17 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) program as well as an increase in total wagering from 2013.
On a beautiful day in Baltimore, the attendance of 123,469 at Pimlico Race Course topped the previous record of 121,309 recorded in 2012, and was up 5.07% from 117,309 for the 2013 Preakness.
Total pari-mutuel handle on this year's 13-race program was $83,786,363, up 2.2% from $81,939,228 last year for the same number of races.
Total wagering on the Preakness, which had a 10-horse field, was $53,655,673, down 0.9% from $54,146,381 for a nine-horse field in 2013, according to MJC figures.
"It was another fantastic day with the record attendance under ideal conditions," MJC president Tom Chuckas said.
The infield as usual was crowded. This year's headliners were Grammy Award winner Lorde and hip-hop artist Nas.