Kentucky Downs average purse was record $490K during seven-day meet

The average purse at the recently completed Kentucky Downs meet soared 48.8 percent compared to the same figure last year, according to an analysis conducted by Daily Racing Form.

Kentucky Downs, which ran seven all-turf cards this year, distributed a total of $37.3 million in purses, including bonuses for horses eligible for the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, for an average of $490,789 per race, by far the highest total of any North American track in history. Purses at the track are heavily subsidized by revenues from casinos operated by the track’s owners.

The average field size this year was 10.89 horses per race, up 4.6 percent from 10.41 horses per race last year.

Over the seven days, total commingled handle on the track’s races was $90.34 million, or an average of $1.19 million per race, three times the national average. The total and average were both up 7.9 percent over last year’s seven-day meet, when Kentucky Downs held the same number of races as this year.

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Last year, Kentucky Downs raised its takeout rates one percentage point across the board, leading to grumbling from some horseplayers. That year, average handle per race inched up 0.86 percent, while total handle increased 5.0 percent (the track ran three more races in 2023 compared to the 2022 meet).

Steve Asmussen and Brendan Walsh tied for the trainer’s title at the meet, each winning six races, though Asmussen did so with 33 starters, compared to Walsh’s 39 starters. Asmussen led by earnings, with $2.43 million in purses, compared to Walsh’s $1.82 million.

Irad Ortiz Jr. and Tyler Gaffalione tied for the rider’s title with nine wins each, though Ortiz won by earnings, with a $4.12 million haul, compared to Gaffalione’s $3.81 million. Ortiz had 33 mounts, compared to 69 for Gaffalione.

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