Handle up slightly at Churchill September meet

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – All-sources handle at the 11-day September meet at Churchill Downs, which began Sept. 15 and closed Sunday, was up 2.4 percent over the comparable 2016 meet, according to figures released Monday by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Gross handle was nearly $38.75 million, for a per-day average of $3,522,492 at the meet, up marginally over the 11-day meet in 2016. Handle at the 2016 meet was up nearly 14 percent over 2015.

Churchill Downs Inc. does not release handle and attendance for its tracks except for major dates.

Field size averaged 8.87 horses per race, and favorites won at a 34 percent clip (37 of 109).

On the racetrack, Corey Lanerie was the leading jockey for the 14th time in the last 16 Churchill meets, riding 25 winners. Brad Cox and Kenny McPeek tied for top trainer with seven wins apiece, and Ken and Sarah Ramsey were the leading owners with five wins.

This was the fifth year Churchill has hosted a September meet since assuming dates traditionally held by Turfway Park in 2013.