Delaware Park reports handle up 17 percent

Delaware Park officials reported a 17 percent increase in handle during its 81-day season, which concluded Saturday. In a release, the track said it had total all-sources handle of $112 million, up from $95.7 million in 2017.

The handle increase came despite fewer turf races at the meet and a drop in average starters per race.

Kevin DeLucia, senior vice president of racing/finance, attributed the handle increase to several factors.

“I think we did a better job of placing some of our cards and even individual races in spots attractive to horse players,” DeLucia said. “Having opening day on the Wednesday after Memorial Day instead of our traditional opening on Saturday is one example. I think we also benefited from industry-wide handle figures being up despite slightly smaller field size.”

Field size at the meet was 6.65 horses per race, a decline of 6.8 percent from 7.14 horses a year ago. The number of turf races was down 18.7 percent, from 150 to 122.

“The historic rainfall that resulted in the significant decrease of turf racing also contributed to the drop in average starters per race,” DeLucia said.

Trainer Jamie Ness and jockey Carol Cedeno once again led their respective divisions.

Ness won his sixth title in the last seven years by sending out 41 winners from 153 starters, a 26-percent win average.

Cedeno has won four of the last five Delaware titles. She rode 100 winners from 409 mounts (24 percent) at the meet. Cedeno won 86 Thoroughbred races and 14 Arabian races.