Record Handle, Attendance on Oaks Day
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
All-sources wager for Oaks Day set a record, but wagering on the race itself declined from last year's record.
A record-breaking 124,589 fans watched Cathryn Sophia capture the 142nd running of the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at Churchill Downs. Perfect weather contributed to an outstanding day of racing and a crowd that broke the previous attendance record of 123,763 set just last year.
Wagering from all-sources on the full Kentucky Oaks Day race card was the highest all-time and totaled $49 million, an increase of 6% over the previous record 2015 total of $46.1 million. All-sources wagering on the Kentucky Oaks of $15 million was 1.3% down from 2015's record-setting $15.2 million.
On-track wagering on the Kentucky Oaks day race card of $12.0 million was flat to 2015. On-track wagering on the Kentucky Oaks race of $3 million was down 3.2% from 2015's record-setting $3.1 million.
"The record numbers today show that the Kentucky Oaks continues to grow and proves that it has established itself as one of the world's most popular events," said Kevin Flanery, Churchill Downs' president. "The fans loved our most recent investments in the facility, which focused on improving the customer experience."