Delaware: Average daily handle rises 13 percent for 2013 meet

A slight reduction in the number of live racing dates helped Delaware Park register double-digit gains in daily average handle this season.

According to figures released by the track earlier this week, Delaware Park’s all-sources daily handle rose 13 percent from $1,255,612 a year ago to $1,421,646 during the 2012 meet that ended Oct. 9.

Overall all-sources handle was down 1 percent with $115,151,678 for 81 days in 2013 compared with $116,771,916 for 93 days in 2012.

“The last couple of years have been challenging because of the increased competition, the steady decrease in the foal crops, and the sluggish economy,” said John Mooney, Delaware’s executive director of racing. “By reducing the number of days of the meet, we positioned our product to be competitive with those challenges, and we are upbeat about the results.”

On the track, jockey Alex Cintron won his first riding title with 98 wins, two ahead of apprentice Victor Carrasco. Jamie Ness was the leading training for the second consecutive year with 50 wins. Midwest Thoroughbreds won the leading owner title for the fourth consecutive season with 50 victories.