Keeneland sets wagering records at 2022 spring meet

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Wagering records were shattered at the 15-day spring meet that ended Friday at Keeneland, with more than $219 million in all-sources handle marking an all-time high.

Per-day purse payouts of $1,147,834 also were easily an all-time record.

This was the third straight meet for record handle at Keeneland. Total handle was $219,284,979, for a daily average of more than $14.6 million.

Gross handle surpasses the former record of $181 million bet during the 17-day fall meet last October. Handle was $164.7 million last spring.

A single-day record for a non-Breeders’ Cup card was set April 9, Blue Grass Stakes Day, with more than $28.1 million in handle.

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Ontrack handle at the latest meet totaled nearly $16.2 million, or 75 percent more than last spring, when attendance was limited by pandemic restrictions. Attendance figures are no longer released by the track.

On the racetrack, Tyler Gaffalione edged Irad Ortiz Jr. by a 19-18 count to win another Keeneland riding title. Gaffalione won the second-to-last race Friday to break a tie.

Wesley Ward won two closing-day races to take the training title by a 13-11 tally over Brad Cox, marking the eighth time Ward has won or shared a Keeneland title.

The Stonestreet Stables of Barbara Banke was the leading owner with five winners from just eight starts.

Field size averaged 9.1 horses per race, while betting favorites won at a 36 percent clip (51 of 141).

The fall meet runs Oct. 7-29, followed by the Breeders’ Cup being hosted by Keeneland for the third time Nov. 4-5.

“The spring meet was unmatched in many measures,” Keeneland president Shannon Arvin said in a Saturday press release. “This spring season sets the stage for a huge racing year.”