Churchill Downs enjoys strong fall meet, even beyond the Breeders' Cup

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – According to figures released Tuesday by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, gross all-sources handle at the 21-day Churchill Downs fall meet that ended Sunday was nearly $263.9 million. That figure includes the $157.4 million bet on the Breeders' Cup cards on Nov. 2-3.

Because the 2017 Breeders' Cup was not run at Churchill, it is difficult to make precise meet-to-meet comparisons. Betting on the 21-day Churchill fall meet last year averaged $5.1 million. Betting on the 19 non-Breeders' Cup cards at this year's meet averaged about $5.6 million, a gain of nearly 10 percent. Imported simulcasting is not included in any numbers.

Meanwhile, field size at the 2018 fall meet averaged 9.1 horses per race, up marginally from last fall's 8.95, while favorites won at a 34 percent clip (75 of 223 races).

On the racetrack, Tyler Gaffalione was the leading jockey in his first full meet at Churchill. Gaffalione, who also was leading jockey at the Keeneland fall meet in October, rode 21 winners, one more than both Corey Lanerie and Brian Hernandez Jr.

Steve Asmussen won the second-to-last race of the meet with Share the Upside to salvage a tie with Dallas Stewart for leading trainer with 11 wins each. Asmussen extended his own record for most Churchill training titles (20), while it was the first title for Stewart anywhere.

The Loooch Racing Stable of Ron Paolucci earned its first Churchill owners’ title by winning five races.

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