Los Alamitos Concludes Successful Winter Meet
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Los Alamitos Race Course ended a successful first winter Thoroughbred meet Dec. 21, averaging $5,640,866 in daily total combined mutuel handle during the 12-day stand, and showing a sizable gain in wagering out of state.
"This meet did exactly what we hoped it would do in that we continued to show growth, most particularly out-of-state handle," said Brad McKinzie, vice president and general manager of the Los Alamitos Racing Association. "Through Saturday (Dec. 20), we were up over $320,000 a day out of state if you look at the numbers from the (September) fall meet to this meet ($1,850,163 in December. compared with $1,526,553 three months earlier).
"We accomplished exactly what we set out to do. I'm happy.''
Rainy weather contributed to a slight decline in average field size from the fall meet, but the average of 7.46 starters per race was up over the summer Thoroughbred festival (6.99 starters) in July.
On the track, Rafael Bejarano won the riding title at the brief meet with 12 victories, two more than runner-up Tyler Baze. The training title went to Bob Baffert, who edged newcomer Phi D'Amato, 8-7.
Thoroughbred racing will return to Los Alamitos in July 2015.