Pimlico: Record handle, attendance for a Black-Eyed Susan card

Handle on the Black-Eyed Susan card at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Friday set a record and was up 19.8 percent over handle on the same day last year, according to figures released by the track’s owner.

Total handle of $22.3 million on the 14-race card was up 12 percent over the record set in 2017, when handle was $19.9 million. The Friday card this year was conducted under sunny skies over a fast track, while the races on the latter part of the card last year were conducted over a muddy track after a thunderstorm in the afternoon.

The record continues a strong run by racing’s big-event days despite scrutiny of the racing industry brought on by a spate of deaths earlier this year at Santa Anita Park in Southern California, a track also owned by Pimlico’s owner, The Stronach Group. Handle for both Kentucky Oaks Day and Kentucky Derby Day also set records two weeks ago, and handle on the Derby itself broke a record as well.

Pimlico reported record attendance of 51,573. The previous record for a Black-Eyed Susan card, according to numbers reported by the track, was set in 2017.
Though handle and attendance were records, the day was marred by the sudden death of a filly, Congrats Gal, who collapsed shortly after the finish line in the eighth race and could not be revived. The Stronach Group said after the incident that a full necropsy will be performed.

The string of records set this year during the Triple Crown season have surprised many racing officials who were anxious going into the Kentucky Derby due to widespread coverage of the Santa Anita injuries.

The Preakness Stakes tomorrow does not include any of the four horses who finished in that order under the wire in the Kentucky Derby, but officials with betting companies have expressed optimism in the betting potential for the race due to a 13-horse field with a tepid favorite and a good weather forecast.

Last year, with eventual Triple Crown winner Justify as a 2-5 winner over a sloppy and sealed track, betting on the Preakness set a record at $62 million.