TVG's handle up for quarter

Wagering through Television Games Network's account-wagering operation rose 5 percent in the second quarter compared to the same period last year, according to figures released by the company Friday.

Total handle was a record $125 million in the second quarter, a period in which all three Triple Crown races were conducted. This year, for the first time in its history, TVG was unable to take bets on the Kentucky Derby because of a lack of an agreement with a company part-owned by Churchill Downs, but the network was one of only two major account-wagering operations that were able to take bets on the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown.

The lack of agreement with the Churchill company, TrackNet Media, which is co-owned by Magna Entertainment Corp., also resulted in several other track signals being absent from TVG in the quarter, including Churchill's spring meet.

TVG responded by focusing on the races for several of its marquee track partners, and wagering increased on the Keeneland signal by 37 percent, on the Belmont Park signal by 36 percent, and on the Hollywood Park signal by 35 percent, TVG said.