Handle down opening weekend at Keeneland

LEXINGTON, Ky. – All-sources wagering on Keeneland racing on the opening three-day Fall Stars Weekend was down marginally from 2013, according to figures released by the track.

Total handle was $29.4 million, down 5 percent from the $31.1 million handle on opening weekend last year. Saturday and Sunday handle actually were up from last year, but handle on the Friday opener, which marked the debut of the new dirt surface amid nasty weather, was down 24 percent.

Both ontrack handle ($4 million) and attendance (51,393) were down slightly (by 1 percent and 2 percent) from last year. Field size averaged 8.4 horses per race, down from 10.1.