Betting on BC declines

All-sources wagering on the eight Breeders' Cup races this year at Santa Anita Park was down 1 percent to $107.5 million, according to final figures released by Breeders' Cup on Tuesday.

The decline was the second in three years for Breeders' Cup. In 2001, betting on the eight Breeders' Cup races fell from $101.3 million to $98.7 million. Last year, betting was $108.6 million.

Breeders' Cup officials said that handle this year was hurt by a 12-minute delay after the Turf to confirm the results of a dead heat. The delay reduced the time between the posted result of the Turf and the start of the Classic to 24 minutes.

Handle from international locations was $12.7 million, including $2.2 million from France and $2.1 million from the United Kingdom.

Overall, all-sources handle on Breeders' Cup Day for the 12 races offered at Santa Anita was $120.6 million, a record for a Breeders' Cup card and up 4 percent compared to last year's total on an 11-race card at Arlington Park.

Ontrack handle at Santa Anita was a record for Breeders' Cup, at $16.3 million. The previous record was $15.4 million in 1986.