Total handle up 15 percent at Churchill September meet

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – All-sources wagering at the 11-day September meet that ended Sunday at Churchill Downs was up nearly 15 percent on gross handle of more than $45.4 million, according to figures released Tuesday by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

An average of $4,128,469 was bet per card, well above the $3,522,492 average for 11 days at the corresponding 2017 meet. The single highest handle came last Saturday night, when $5,150,905 was bet on an 11-race card that included four stakes.

Churchill Downs Inc. does not release handle figures nor provide comment on business trends for its race meets, but handle surely was helped in part by the fact TVG televised Churchill races on its main station for the last eight days of the meet, breaking the ice on a years-long feud during which Churchill racing was relegated to TVG2.

Field size averaged 8.5 horses per race, and favorites won at a 35 percent clip (38 of 109).

On the racetrack, Corey Lanerie was the leading jockey for the 16th time, booting home 18 winners. Tom Amoss edged Brad Cox for leading trainer by a 7-6 count, and there was a seven-way tie for leading owner (two wins each).

Churchill has run the September dates formerly held by Turfway Park since 2013.

Racing at Churchill returns Oct. 28 for a fall meet highlighted by the Nov. 2-3 Breeders’ Cup.