Turfway handle jumped at winter-spring meet
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Turfway Park reported a 62 percent gain in all-sources handle for its recently concluded winter-spring meet.
During the 48-day meet that began in January and closed on April 1 -- management counts the track's activity in November and December as a separate meet -- more than $145 million was wagered, according to a release issued Monday by the Florence, Ky., track, which is owned by Churchill Downs, Inc. That figure was $56 million more than 2022. The track raced nine fewer days in 2022, so average daily handle increased approximately 32 percent.
The meet was embraced by horsemen, leading to that solid wagering product. More than $19 million in purse money, including funds from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, was awarded through the meet, an increase of 43 percent from 2022. That led to an increase of more than 900 starters this season, the track reported. Average starters per race increased from 9.15 in 2022 to 9.78 in 2023.
“The racing season at Turfway Park Racing and Gaming was a huge success across the board,” Turfway president Michael Taylor said in the release. “Our team at Turfway Park delivered a competitive racing product while welcoming back fans to our newly renovated facility.”
The meet was highlighted by a marquee six-stakes card on March 25 that drew a robust average of 12.5 entries per race. Two Phil's won the featured Grade 3, $700,000 Jeff Ruby, and is now bound for the Kentucky Derby on May 6 at Churchill Downs. He will attempt to become the first Ruby winner to take the spring classic since Animal Kingdom swept both races in 2011, when Turfway's signature Derby prep was still known as the Spiral. In 2022, Rich Strike was third in the Ruby before his upset win in the Kentucky Derby.
Walter Rodriguez, a five-pound apprentice, led the winter-spring meet rider standings, with 48 victories to 45 for Gerardo Corrales. Both riders are represented by Cliff Collier.
Rodriguez, who rode a pair of stakes winners at the meet, plans to continue riding the Kentucky circuit.
“It’s been an absolute blessing to have this much success this winter,” Rodriguez, who rode his first winner last June at Laurel, said in March. “It’s been a lot of hard work to get here, but I’m really blessed and looking forward to riding at Keeneland and Churchill after we’re done here.”
In the trainer standings, Wesley Ward led with 22 wins, seven more than Paulo Lobo and Bill Morey. Ward also tied for the leading owner by wins, as he, Lael Stables, and Three Diamonds Farm each recorded six wins. Lael broke the tie for the champion owner with the highest earnings.
While the Kentucky racing circuit now shifts to Keeneland for the spring meeting that begins Friday, Turfway's barn area and racetrack will now remain open for year-round training and stabling. In addition to the new grandstand that debuted this season, Turfway also finished construction on a new dormitory for backstretch workers and five new barns. The track can stable approximately 1,000 horses.
According to a Turfway, local trainers expected to remain stabled at the track include Jeff Greenhill, Will Walden, and Ethan West. They’ll join Kentucky mainstays Steve Asmussen, Brad Cox, and Mike Maker, who are all expected to keep a string of horses stabled in Northern Kentucky.
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