Parx daily handle rises 5 percent in 2016
Parx Racing averaged $1.46 million a day in handle during 2016, an increase of 5 percent over the average of $1.39 million in 2015, according to Sam Elliott, the track’s director of racing.
Parx raced 157 days in 2016, 45 fewer than in 2015.
Parx averaged 7.96 horses per race, according to Elliott, a slight increase over the 7.92 average in 2015.
Parx was under an equine herpesvirus quarantine from April 1 until May 17.
“When we came out of the quarantine, we were down 10 percent in handle and about a horse per race,” Elliott said. “I was pleased how we did the second half of the year.”
Parx also had an equine herpesvirus quarantine in October 2015, but only one barn was quarantined then, and two were quarantined last spring.
Frankie Pennington won his third consecutive riding title at Parx in 2016 with 103 wins, 18 more than apprentice Luis Ocasio, who was second. Hector Caballero was third with 83 wins. The title was the fourth at Parx for Pennington.
The husband-and-wife team of Mike and Patricia Farro won its second Parx training title. They also won in 2013. The Farros won 97 races at Parx last year. Marcos Zulueta was second with 74 wins, and Ramon Preciado was third with 72.