Turfway handle drops for Holiday Meet

Turfway Park concluded its December Holiday Meet Friday night with a gain in average ontrack daily handle but with a sharp drop in total wagering, according a release from the Florence, Ky., track.

Turfway ran for 17 days during the meet, four fewer than in 2009, and average ontrack handle rose 10.5 percent to $116,371. All-sources daily handle fell 15.1 percent to $2,372,697.

With four fewer days of racing at Turfway, totals were down from 2009 – 10.6 percent in ontrack handle and 31.3 percent for all-sources handle.

Average daily purses dipped 6.8 percent to $103,987.

Average field size remained large, rising from 10.1 to 10.2 starters per race.

The 17-year-old apprentice jockey Marcelino Pedroza Jr. earned his first riding title. Mike Maker was the meet’s leading trainer and Patton’s Creek Farm and Ken and Sarah Ramsey shared leading owner honors.

Turfway began its winter/spring meet with the start of the new year on Saturday. It continues until April 3.