Kentucky Downs handles $9.6M

Business at the six-day kentucky Downs meet that ended Tuesday had all-sources handle of more than $9.6 million on 46 races.

The gross handle was the third-highest in the 17 years that racing has been conducted at the turf-only track in Franklin, Ky. Ontrack handle of $444,601 was the second-highest in track history.

Comparisons with the 2006 meet are invalid because 12 fewer races were run last year because of inclement weather, and the Kentucky Cup turf series was run on a Tuesday instead of a Saturday as scheduled. Roughly $8.5 million was bet from all sources on Kentucky Downs races last year.

In 2005, when 35 races were run during a five-day meet, all-sources handle was $9.17 million.

This was the first Kentucky Downs meet since Corey Johnsen, formerly of Magna Entertainment Corp., and partners of his purchased the track.

On the racetrack, Larry Sterling Jr., riding regularly in Kentucky for the first time, was the leading jockey with nine wins. Daniel "Speedy" Smithwick and his main client, David Ross, were the leading trainer and owner with six and five wins, respectively.