Northlands has decline in handle

Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alberta, had an average daily all-sources live handle of $239,515 this year, down by 16 percent from roughly $288,000 last year, according to Jonathan Huntington, the track's racing marketing manager.

The total handle of $21,316,835 for the 89-day meet that ended Monday was up by $3.7 million over 2008. Northlands picked up additional days when the proposed track in Balzac wasn't completed this year and there was no racing in southern Alberta. Last year Northlands ran 61 days. Northlands was originally scheduled run 96 days but closed early because of a lack of purse money.

Trainer Jim Meyaard was the leading trainer with 64 wins, 18 more than second-place Robertino Diodoro. Jockey Rickey Walcott started off the meet on fire and never looked back. He dominated the standings with 155 wins compared to 92 for Quincy Welch, who finished second.