Mahoning Valley reports record per-race handle

Mahoning Valley Race Course in Ohio reported a record handle per race in statistics for its recently concluded winter-spring meeting.

Mahoning Valley reported gross handle of $65,358,215 during the 63-day meet and an average of $127,156 wagered per race, a spike of 24 percent from $102,873 per race for the 2017 winter-spring meet. The per-race average is a record for any meet held at Mahoning Valley since its 2014 opening.

The track also reported that field size grew, with an average of 8.12 wagering interests per race, compared to 7.78 for the 2017 meet.

"We benefited from a stronger overall product and a continued increase of product awareness and availability in the marketplace," Mark Loewe, vice president of racing, said in a release.

Loewe added that Mahoning's signature race, the Steel Valley Sprint, will get a purse boost to $250,000, from $200,000, for 2018. The sprint for 3-year-olds will be contested on Nov. 19, on a card also including the Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Distaff. The racing season begins on Oct. 26.