Turfway business declines

Turfway Park's gross business was down about 10 percent in both all-sources and ontrack handle on live races at the winter-spring meet that began Jan. 1 and ended Thursday, according to figures released by the Florence, Ky., track.

Gross all-sources handle on 62 days of Turfway racing totaled nearly $150.7 million, while ontrack handle totaled just over $7.9 million. Those figures were down 9.6 and 10.4 percent, respectively, from 60 days in 2007. The daily average figures for this year's longer meet were down about 12 percent both ontrack and total.

Turfway canceled six full programs and one partial card while also making up two Monday programs. In all, 624 races were run, exactly the same as last year.

Gross purse payouts were just over $9 million, with the track reporting the daily average of $145,614 being down 3.3 percent.

Victor Lebron won the winter-spring riding title with 79 winners. Mike Maker was the leading trainer with 22 wins, while his main clients, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, were the leading owners with 12.