Ontrack handle up; Sayler wins title again

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - A daily ontrack average of $84,631 was handled at the 2002 Assiniboia Downs meeting, which concluded Sunday. That is a 4.8 percent increase over the corresponding 2001 figure of $80,764, Offtrack handle on live racing decreased from $54,378 per day in 2001 to $51,026, but the average total handle increased slightly from $135,142 in 2001 to $135,657.

Ontrack attendance was down slightly in 2002, from an average of 1,951 patrons per day in 2001 to 1,904 this year.

Ardell Sayler's 41 wins were enough to give him his third consecutive trainer title. Wendy Anderson finished second with 33 victories.

Trainer Clayton Gray, who finished the meet with nine wins from 32 starts, will be honored as the top percentage trainer with 28 percent.

Jockey Jacques DesAutels ended the 2002 meet the same way he began it, as he won four races on both opening and closing days. DesAutels finished the year as the leading rider with 99 wins, seven ahead of Rohan Singh.

* In the closing-day feature, Sir Pucker ($4.20) won the Gold Breeders' Cup over Beau Ring and Rim Dancer.

In the Osiris Plate, also run here last Sunday, Suntana ($10.50) won and secured his spot as the top local 2-year-old.