Santa Anita has $24M day

All-sources handle on Santa Anita races on Saturday, Santa Anita Derby Day, was $24,335,478, the fourth-highest in the history of the day and a 14.2 percent increase over the 2006 figure of $21.4 million.

Saturday's ontrack handle of $5,667,632, though, was down from the 2006 ontrack handle of $6,070,191.

The track's president, Ron Charles, said a pick six carryover into the 2006 Santa Anita Derby program made the 2006 ontrack handle difficult to surpass.

Santa Anita drew a season-high announced crowd of 56,810 for Saturday's 11-race Santa Anita Derby card, the biggest crowd to witness the race since 1984. Helped by a T-shirt giveaway, which led some customers to go through the turnstiles more than once, Saturday's announced attendance easily exceeded the 54,189 who attended last year.

The track guaranteed a $1 million pool for Saturday's pick six. The pool reached $1,035,416. There were no winning tickets, leaving a carryover of more than $574,000 for Sunday's program.

On Sunday, bettors added $1,728,666 to the pick six pool. Favorites dominated, winning five of the races. The bet returned $898.40 to 1,709 ticket-holders.- Steve AndersenAll-sources handle on Santa Anita races on Saturday, Santa Anita Derby Day, was $24,335,478, the fourth-highest in the history of the day and a 14.2 percent increase over the 2006 figure of $21.4 million.

Saturday's ontrack handle of $5,667,632, though, was down from the 2006 ontrack handle of $6,070,191.

The track's president, Ron Charles, said a pick six carryover into the 2006 Santa Anita Derby program made the 2006 ontrack handle difficult to surpass.

Santa Anita drew a season-high announced crowd of 56,810 for Saturday's 11-race Santa Anita Derby card, the biggest crowd to witness the race since 1984. Helped by a T-shirt giveaway, which led some customers to go through the turnstiles more than once, Saturday's announced attendance easily exceeded the 54,189 who attended last year.

The track guaranteed a $1 million pool for Saturday's pick six. The pool reached $1,035,416. There were no winning tickets, leaving a carryover of more than $574,000 for Sunday's program.

On Sunday, bettors added $1,728,666 to the pick six pool. Favorites dominated, winning five of the races. The bet returned $898.40 to 1,709 ticket-holders.- Steve Andersen