Parx handle of $9.6 million second-best in track's history
BENSALEM, Pa. - Parx Racing handled $9.6 million on Saturday, the second-highest in track history, according to Joe Wilson, the chief operating officer of Parx.
The handle on Pennsylvania Derby/Cotillion Day was up 65 percent from last year, when Parx handled $5.8 million. The all-time record handle at Parx came on Pennsylvania Derby/Cotillion Day in 2014 when California Chrome ran in the Derby and Untapable raced in the Cotillion. Parx handled $10.3 million that day.
Although Parx doesn't charge for parking or admission, Wilson estimated attendance at the track Saturday to be more than 16,000.
"We used up all of our available parking in the lot and were parking people on the grass field," Wilson said.
Using the same barometer, Wilson's estimate for Pennsylvania Derby/Cotillion Day in 2014 was 17,000.