Keeneland sets fall meet record for total handle despite slight drop in field size

Total handle at the Keeneland fall meet set a record at $217.6 million, according to an analysis by Daily Racing Form, despite slight drops in field size and the number of turf races the track offered during its 17-day meet, which closed on Saturday.

The total handle was a 3.5 percent jump over last year’s handle of $210.4 million. Keeneland offered the same number of races during both fall meets, and average handle per race also jumped 3.5 percent, to $1,351,808.

Average field size dropped from 9.59 horses per race in fall 2024 to 9.21 horses per race, a decline of 4.0 percent, perhaps due to a drop in the number of turf races held during this year’s fall meet. Keeneland ran 50 of the meet’s 161 races on the turf this year, compared to 55 turf races last year.

Total purses and average purses continued to set records, with both figures up 7.1 percent over the 2024 fall meet. The total amount of purses distributed during the meet was $23.98 million, with the average purses climbing to $148,913 per race.

Purses at all Kentucky tracks are subsidized by revenues generated at casinos owned and operated by the tracks, and purses at nearly all Kentucky tracks have been rising significantly over the past 10 years as total casino revenue in the state continues to climb year over year.

Wagering figures were helped by dry and warm weather throughout the three-week stand, with fall making a late appearance this year in Central Kentucky. According to Keeneland, on-track wagering jumped 3.87 percent compared to last fall. Keeneland also had three sizeable pick six carryovers during the meet.

Jockey Irad Ortiz took the rider’s title with 25 wins, including four stakes victories, all of them in graded races. Brad Cox took his eighth Keeneland trainer’s title with 12 wins, with two of them coming on the final day to edge out Brendan Walsh and Steve Asmussen, both with 11 wins.

Spendthrift Farm took the owner’s title with a remarkable six wins from eight starters. The farm also co-owned a seventh winner with Repole Stable.

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