Record attendance, wagering on Kentucky Oaks card

Wagering and attendance on Friday at Churchill Downs were records for a Kentucky Oaks Day, the second straight year in which the standards fell.

Helped by mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70s, attendance was 124,589, slightly higher than the reported attendance last year of 123,589, when weather conditions were nearly similar. All-sources wagering was $49.0 million, up 6 percent over last year’s record all-sources handle of $46.1 million. However, this year Churchill held 13 races on the Oaks card, one more than last year.

Wagering on the Kentucky Oaks was $14.86 million, compared with $15.05 million last year, a decline of 1.3 percent, according to charts of the race. This year, the betting menu for the Kentucky Oaks did not include a super Hi-5 and a 10-cent pick 7, as was the case last year. Both editions had 14 horses, the maximum allowed in the race.

Ontrack betting at Churchill on Friday was $12.0 million, Churchill reported, even with the ontrack betting total last year.

The weather forecast for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby card on Friday night was for mostly sunny skies with highs in the low 80s until late afternoon. After that, the forecast calls for a 30 percent chance of rain.