Assiniboia handle increases

The handle at Assiniboia Downs made across-the-board gains at the 2007 meeting, which ended last Sunday.

Total handle for the 69-day season was $7,824,090, up 8 percent from $7,244,813 in 2006, with the average daily handle up to $113,393 from $104,578.

Ontrack wagering for the season increased 2 percent to $5,586,141 from $5,473,085, while offtrack wagering went up 26 percent, to $2,237,949 from $1,771,728.

Jockey Alan Cuthbertson became the first rider here since Chris Martin in 1995 to record 100 wins in a season. Cuthbertson finished the year with 106 wins from 434 mounts, well in front of Kirk Johnson (52), and Mark Anderson (47). It was the second consecutive riding title for the 60-year-old Cuthbertson.

Martin Drexler captured his first trainers title with 43 winners from 129 starters. Tom Gardipy Jr. was second with 35 while Ardell Sayler and Carl Anderson tied for third with 33 wins apiece.