Churchill Meet Handle Exceeded $46 Million
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The decision by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to grant racing dates to Churchill Downs for the month of September paid off, with total pari-mutuel handle of nearly $46.3 million for 12 days more than doubling wagering during the 16 days raced by Turfway Park during September 2012.
As part of a Churchill Downs Inc. corporate policy, the track does not release handle or attendance figures except for special events, such as the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), and night racing. Churchill and other Kentucky tracks report wagering figures to the KHRC.
Figures obtained through a KHRC request show $46,285,926 wagered from all sources on Churchill races during the "homecoming meet" for an average of $3,857,135 per day. Last year Turfway averaged $1,280,418 on total handle of $20,486,694 for a 16-day stand.
Horsemen also benefitted from the venue change for September racing, with $4,476,223 in purses paid out at Churchill for a daily average $373,019, according to The Jockey Club Information Systems. TJCIS shows average daily purses of $96,883 on total purses of $1,550,134 at Turfway in September 2012.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey took top owner honors with six wins; Corey Lanerie's 19 wins topped the jockeys' list; and Dale Romans and Steve Asmussen tied for trainer honors with eight wins each.