All-sources handle up sharply at Oaklawn meet

Bolstered by a surge in offtrack business, Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., reported a double-digit gain in average daily handle during its 51-date meet that closed April 12. The track also reported record purses and a small gain in average daily attendance during the meet, which lost four full programs and two partial cards due to inclement weather.

Oaklawn handled an average of $3,318,589 a day on its live races from all sources at the meet, up 19 percent from the 54-date season in 2013. Of the total handle amount, an average of $2,585,327 a day was bet offsite, an increase of 27 percent over $2,040,707 a card a year ago. Patrons ontrack bet an average of $733,262 a day on live races, a dip of 1.9 percent. Attendance averaged 10,357 a program at this meet, up 0.4 percent from 2013.

“Racing fans throughout the nation and Arkansas responded to the high quality of racing we were able to offer,” David Longinotti, director of racing for Oaklawn, said in a release.

Oaklawn’s purses averaged a record $411,071 per card at this meet, a 13 percent increase from $365,370 per program in 2013. The purse structure helped fuel record claiming activity, as 423 horses were claimed for more than $6.2 million in 2014.

Danny Caldwell was the meet’s leading owner by wins, with 24 from 80 starts. His stable earned $579,267. Steve Asmussen led all trainers in wins, with 35 from 157 starts, and stable earnings of $1,859,450. It was Asmussen’s sixth title at Oaklawn. The leading jockey for the second year in a row was Ricardo Santana Jr., with 59 wins from 292 starts, and mount earnings of $2,561,193.

Danza won the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby at 41-1 on April 12 before a closing-day crowd of 63,186. Handle on the afternoon’s 12-race card from all sources was a meet-high $12,237,621.

The Arkansas Racing Commission recently granted Oaklawn a Jan. 9-April 11 meet for 2015.