Evangeline handle drops

In keeping with industry-wide trends, Evangeline Downs concluded its 2009 meeting last Monday with declines in both total handle and average daily handle.

According to figures from the Audit Division of the Louisiana State Racing Commission, total all-sources handle for the 89-day meeting was $136,840,512, a decrease of just over 6 percent from last year's 84 days of racing.

Daily handle for this year's meeting averaged $1.54 million per night, a decline of 11.3 percent from 2008. Racing was canceled after just two races on April 18 this year because of inclement weather.

Diego Saenz won the rider title after booting home 111 winners, while multiple training champ Keith Bourgeois defended his crown by sending out 90 winners.