Keeneland spring daily wagering up 15 percent over 2019
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Average daily wagering for the Keeneland spring meet in Lexington jumped nearly 15 percent compared to the last time the spring meet was held in 2019, according to figures released by the track Friday night.
Average daily wagering was $10.99 million for the 15-day meet, which had one less live racing day than the meet in 2019 because Easter fell on a live racing day this year. Total handle for the meet was up 7.6 percent to $164.7 million, up from $153.1 million in 2019.
Keeneland did not hold a spring meet last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Keeneland capped attendance at this year’s spring meet under the guidance of state and local health officials, and it limited the availability of concessions throughout the facility. On-track customers were given debit cards with their tickets that allowed them to purchase food and drink without using cash, along with free Equibase programs.
Keeneland said that on-track attendance averaged 6,416, though track officials did not divulge daily attendance figures due to the restrictions. During the meet, the track did not allow walk-up sales of general admission, and it did not open its tailgate area on “the Hill,” a grassy lot east of the track that draws roughly 10,000 people a day on weekends.
Average daily on-track handle was $614,952, compared to $1.03 million during the 2019 spring meet, when daily average attendance was 15,159. Keeneland encouraged fans to bet on the track’s app, and it closed a large number of its mutuel bays.