01/04/2013 5:15PM

Hollywood Park reports sharp increase in business for fall meet

By Steve Andersen
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Boosted by a sizeable increase in betting through account-wagering systems, the 2012 autumn meeting at Betfair Hollywood Park showed an increase in average daily handle of 13.8 percent, according to a statement released by the track on Thursday.

The statement revealed limited parimutuel and attendance data. The track said average handle from all sources was $9.15 million, compared to $8.04 million at the 2011 meeting. Data was compiled for the 24-day meeting that ended on Dec. 16, and from simulcasting revenue through Dec. 23.

Average daily handle through account-wagering sources rose 27.6 percent, to $2,348,761, compared to $1,414,607 in 2011. Average daily attendance in Southern California, including ontrack and through the simulcasting network, was 9,630, a gain of 3.1 percent over 2011.

The track did not specify its ontrack attendance figures, but said that average daily ontrack handle rose 6.7 percent, to $792,464.

Field size increased to 8.19 runners per race, compared with 7.89 starters per race in 2011.

Hollywood Park will run its spring-summer meeting from April 25 to July 14. The track has not indicated whether it will offer an autumn meeting in 2013, or be closed for development. An announcement on those plans is expected at the California Horse Racing Board meeting at Santa Anita on Jan. 17.