Laurel Winter Festival handle rises 36 percent

The Maryland Jockey Club’s reconfigured Winter Festival last weekend resulted in a 36 percent gain in handle compared to a year ago.

Traditionally, the six-stakes Winter Festival had been spread over the Saturday and Monday cards on Presidents Day weekend. This year, all six stakes were run on Saturday, which resulted in all-sources handle of $4.93 million, a 61 percent gain over the $3.06 million handled in 2016.

The combined handle on the Saturday and Monday cards last weekend was $6.77 million, compared to $4.99 million last year.