Remington handle declines

Remington Park in Oklahoma City closed out its 67-date meet Monday night with a 9 percent decline in average daily handle on its races. The track cited the economic downturn as well as a race-week schedule change as factors contributing to the business slide.

Remington handled an average $545,244 a day on its live races this meet. Of that amount, an average $471,101 a day was bet on the track's races at export sites, down 8 percent from 2008's 67-day meet.

"A schedule change in 2009 to Monday-night racing proved unsuccessful and is probably responsible for the slight declines during the fall," Scott Wells, president of Remington, said in a release issued late Thursday. "However, we have corrected that for 2010 and expected to rebound strongly."

Remington, which operates a casino, paid out $200,805 a day in purses this meet. That figure was down 4 percent from the corresponding season in 2008.

Steve Asmussen won his third consecutive training title with a season-record 102 wins, 70 more than second-leading trainer John Locke. Asmussen's stable earned $1,827,091 in purses. He also finished in a tie for leading owner with Heiligbrodt Racing Stable.

Jockey Jermaine Bridgmohan won the riding title in his first season at Remington, with 82 wins. His mounts earned $1,351,701.

Remington, which is scheduled to expand its electronic gaming offerings to 750 machines in 2010, will open for a Quarter Horse meet on March 5.

Global Gaming, which in August reached an agreement to purchase Remington from Magna Entertainment, will be considered for final licensing as the track's new owner during an Oklahoma Racing Commission meeting on Tuesday.