Portland Meadows up in daily average handle for meeting

Portland Meadows posted a 2.6 percent increase in average daily all-sources handle during its 55-day 2011-12 meeting, which ended Wednesday. The meet began on Oct. 17.

Handle averaged $690,930 per day compared to $673,215 during the 73-day 2010-11 meet, according to a track release. All-sources handle totaled $38,001,156.

A total of $2,311,000 was paid in out in purses during the season for an average purse payout of $42,018 per race day. The average number of starters per race increased to 7.70 from 7.45 last season.

On the track, Javier Matias won his first Portland Meadows riding title. Matias won 70 races from 348 mounts. Luis Torres topped the Quarter Horse riding standings with 18 victories.

Felimon Alvarado took home his first Portland Meadows training title winning 34 races from 104 starts. Juan Sanguino took home the Quarter Horse training title with 16 wins on the season.

Portland Meadows is scheduled to run its inaugural summer meet beginning July 15. The meet will run for 60 days, ending Dec. 8.