Kentucky Downs total handle drops 19 percent

Kentucky Downs reported a sharp downturn in all-sources handle during the four-day meet that ended Monday while also posting a minor increase in ontrack handle.

The turf-only track near Franklin, Ky., reported gross all-sources handle of $3,361,839, down more than 19 percent from the comparable four dates last year. Track president Corey Johnsen termed the results “disappointing” while also noting that California outlets did not take the Kentucky Downs signal as they have in previous years.

Johnsen said ontrack handle received a boost with the Sept. 1 opening of the track’s new Instant Racing room, which encompasses 200 electronic parimutuel machines. Ontrack handle of $313,614 was up nearly 3 percent from last year.

Along with the slight increase in wagering on Kentucky Downs races, the track also reported imported simulcasting handle as “effectively unchanged” compared with similar dates last year, which bucks an industry trend of double-digit wagering decreases.

“The introduction of Instant Racing at Kentucky Downs has brought thousands of new patrons to our facility,” said Johnsen.

On the racetrack, four jockeys tied for most wins with three apiece, while Ian Wilkes was the only trainer with as many as two wins, with the other 28 of 30 races being won by different trainers.