Record handle for meet, Saturday card

FRANKLIN, Ky. – Kentucky Downs ended its September meet Saturday with a record single-day handle of $5,071,415 from all sources, concluding another outstanding meet for the rural turf-only track.

Gross handle for the 48-race meet was nearly $16.9 million, which also was a record while up 6 percent over the corresponding total for the 2014 meet, when two more races were run. Moreover, a Saturday card (Sept. 12) at this meet had to be moved to a Monday because of course conditions.

All-sources handle for the 13-race Saturday finale easily surpassed the single-day record of $4,253,567 set on a 12-race card last September.

For the meet, which consisted of four full cards and one partial card, purses fueled largely by slot-like “historical racing” machines grossed $6,563,857, up 38 percent from last year, for a whopping per-race average of $136,747.

Field size averaged 10.6 horses per race, and favorites won 12 of the 48 races (25 percent).

“This meet showcased some of the best turf racing in the country, and we thank all the horsemen and horseplayers,” said track spokesman C.J. Johnsen.

Information was not available by press time Monday regarding ontrack handle and the reversion of Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund bonuses to the 2016 purse account.

On the racetrack, Ken and Sarah Ramsey were the leading owners with four winners, while their main trainer, Mike Maker, was the leading trainer with eight wins, including three straight on the Saturday finale. Florent Geroux, despite riding elsewhere on closing day, tied Rafael Bejarano’s 2004 record for the most winners with 12 while also setting a record for mount earnings with $1,180,286.

Kentucky Downs officials have said they would like to host more dates in 2016. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission will announce the dates in November.