California tracks show slight handle gain in 2015

Handle at California tracks showed a slight gain for the year through February, according to figures compiled by the California Horse Racing Board.

Through the first two months, handle at all California racetracks was $502,681,107, an increase of 2 percent from last year. The data include daytime Thoroughbred racing at Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita and evening meetings for Standardbreds at Cal-Expo and for Quarter Horses and lower-level Thoroughbreds at Los Alamitos.

The growth occurred in the account-wagering market, which grew 6 percent to $90,268,608. Ontrack business was down 3.5 percent to $57,740,484.