Churchill Handle Improves at Spring Meet
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Photo: Chad B. Harmon
Churchill Downs
Even without record wagering on Kentucky Derby (gr. I) day, Churchill Downs registered an increase in total pari-mutuel handle during its 38-day spring meet for a second straight year.
While Kentucky Derby day wagering this year was steady, it fell 1% to $192.6 million when compared to last year's record Derby day handle. Still, the 2016 meet posted a 3.8% bump in total handle to $392,200,551. As both the 2016 and 2015 meets offered 38 racing days, average daily handle was up the same percentage to $10,321,067.
Churchill Concludes 38-Day Spring Meet
In 2015 Churchill spring meet handle was up 2.46% when compared with the 2014 spring meet.
Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) wagering was up 6% to a record $49 million, and the Louisville, Ky., track reported ongoing growth in its "Twilight Thursday" cards.