Handle surges once again at Kentucky Downs meet

All-sources handle at Kentucky Downs hit a record high for the sixth straight year when more than $36.4 million was bet during the five-day meet that ended Thursday at the turf-only track in Franklin, Ky.

That figure was up 20 percent over the previous record of $30.2 million from last year. By comparison, the track’s record handle in 2013 was $12.8 million, so wagering has nearly tripled in the intervening years.

Purses at a meet that began Sept. 1 totaled $10,233,666, or more than $2 million per card, surpassing the total of $8.6 million paid out in 2017. The slots-like historical-racing machines that became operational at Kentucky Downs in 2011 are the major source of funding for purses.

“The meet was fabulous on just about all fronts,” track general manager Ted Nicholson said in a press release.

On the track, Jose Ortiz, the 2017 Eclipse Award champion jockey, was the leading rider when booting home nine winners. Mike Maker was the leading trainer for the fourth straight year with nine wins, while one of his main clients, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, was the leading owner for the seventh straight year with three wins.

Field size averaged a remarkable 11 horses per race, and favorites won at a 32 percent clip (16 for 50).