Assiniboia Downs: Meet ends with rise in all-sources handle

All-sources wagering on the live product was up 6.1 percent at the 60-day Assiniboia Downs meeting that ended Sunday, with the total increasing from $8.2 million last year to $8.7 million this year.

The daily average for this year was $145,000, compared with last year’s $138,962 for a 59-day meet. Assiniboia Downs, in a year-end press release, reported a 24.3 percent increase in wagering from outside the province but an ontrack decrease of 10.8 percent.

The average field size was 6.98, compared with 6.97 last year.

Paul Nolan led all jockeys at the track for the second consecutive season with 76 wins. Adolfo Morales was second with 68 victories, and Jennifer Reid was third with 57.

Ardell Sayler was the runaway leading trainer with 60 wins. Shelley Brown was next with 41, and Chad Torevell was third with 33.

Let Er Rip was the leading owner at the meeting with 21 wins, while K-5 Stable stood second with 19 victories and topped the money standings with almost $230,000 won.

Zdeno, a 2-year-old colt who was 4 for 4, including a 13-length victory in Sunday’s Winnipeg Futurity, was the top money earner at the meeting with $89.838.

Big Bad Barry, Have It My Way, Legs Eleven, Taras Ruler, and Thunderclap Ruler each won five races to share the lead in that category.

The Manitoba Jockey Club also announced that it already has signed a deal with horsemen for next year’s racing season, which includes the same number of days and the same purse structure as this year.