Initial Keeneland figures up

The 17-day fall meet at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., ended Saturday with preliminary figures showing all-time records being set for all-sources mutuel handle and ontrack attendance.

Keeneland estimated the gross all-sources handle at more than $140 million, which would easily exceed the former record of $126 million, set at the 2003 fall meet, also 17 days long. Attendance totaled 233,218, narrowly surpassing attendance recorded at fall meets in 2003 (232,499) and 2005 (232,429 for 17 days).

The meet was Keeneland's first since a synthetic Polytrack was used as the main racing surface. The meet also saw other innovations, such as the Trakus technology system to track horses.

Keeneland officials said they expected final business figures to be confirmed and released no later than Tuesday.

On the racetrack, Julien Leparoux was the leading rider with 30 wins, while Patrick Biancone led all trainers with 11 wins.