Second-Highest Derby Attendance, Handle
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Photo: Rick Schmitt
142nd Kentucky Derby
The 142nd Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) attracted the second-largest attendance in the race's history and the second-highest all-sources handle for the day.
A crowd of 167,227 packed into Churchill Downs and preserved through a late afternoon thundershower about an hour before post time. The attendance was under the record of 170,513 in 2015.
Wagering from all-sources on the Kentucky Derby Day program totaled $192.6 million and was only 1% off the record set in 2015. Wagering from all-sources on the Kentucky Derby race was $124.7 million, down 10% from 2015's record, impacted by 2-1 prohibitive favorite, Nyquist.
On-track wagering on the Kentucky Derby Day program was up 2% to $23.5 million, just shy of the record $23.7 million in 2012. On-track wagering on the Kentucky Derby race totaled $11.3 million, a decrease of 6% from 2015.
Churchill Downs returned $151.8 million to bettors on the Kentucky Derby Day program. Additionally, purses earned from the Kentucky Derby Day program approximated $10.7 million that will be paid out to horsemen during the remainder of the 2016 race meets.
"We were excited to introduce our latest round of renovations and our investments in the facility continue to pay off as we strive to improve the fan experience every year," said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs. "Thanks and congratulations to our horsemen, employees and volunteers that made this an amazing Derby and a phenomenal opening to our 2016 spring meet."
Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Inc., said he expected the Longines Kentucky Oaks/Kentucky Derby week to have a positive effect on the company's bottom line.
"We expect another record Adjusted EBITDA and estimated growth of $4.5-to-$6.0 million over last year's Kentucky Derby week," Carstanjen said.
All-sources handle for Opening Night April 30 through Derby Day May 7 rose to a new record of $266.8 million, up 1% from 2015's previous record. Attendance for those five days was a record-breaking 376,980, up 3% from the previous record set in 2015.