Presque Isle Downs, the racetrack and casino in Erie, Pa., that opened last year, had all-sources daily average handle of $311,140 for the 101-day meet that ended Sept. 28, according to figures provided by the track.
Total handle was $31,425,213, compared with $14,642,000 during the track's inaugural 25-day meet last year. Average daily all-sources handle for the short meet last year was $585,680.
Ontrack, bettors wagered an average of $39,128 a day. Off-track betting averaged $272,012.
In line with many other North American tracks, handle at the Turfway Park fall meet that ended Thursday night was down substantially, with all-sources handle falling 20 percent from the comparable meet in 2007.
All-sources wagering for the 22-day meet was nearly $42.6 million, down from $53.4 million during last year's meet of the same length. Ontrack wagering totaled $2,642,594, averaging barely more than $100,000 per card. Admission totals are not kept.
The 2008 meet included eight fewer races than 2007 because the Sunday, Sept. 14, program was canceled after two races.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Carona Time has risen from winning a $25,000 maiden claimer in the spring to being competitive in optional claiming races at Del Mar in the summer.
Trainer Dan Hendricks is thinking big for Carona Time in one of two $50,000 starter handicaps on the California Cup card Sunday at Santa Anita. The race will be a test for Carona Time, and his first start over 1 1/2 miles on turf.
"I don't see any reason he couldn't do it," Hendricks said of the distance. "He had three solid races at Del Mar. He's run well every time" this year.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - The Fort Erie racing fraternity suffered a major loss last Saturday when trainer John Wilson died from an apparent heart attack after being kicked by a horse he was saddling at Presque Isle Downs.
Wilson, 88, had been very active during the 2008 racing season with 47 starts at Fort Erie and another 12 starts at Woodbine.
On Monday, jockeys, fellow trainers, and racing fans joined track management in a moment of silence for Wilson. Flags were flown at half-mast.
Trainer Norm Bowles recalled how his friend Wilson first came into racing.
Coming off a strong meeting that included a 22 percent increase in handle on the track's races and its first million-dollar handle day in recent history, Portland Meadows opens its 62nd season Sunday with hopes that it can keep the ball rolling.
"We had a great 2007-08 meet," general manager Will Alempijevic said. "We really just want to keep building on that success."
ARCADIA, Calif. - Change has occurred at the top of the California-bred ranks this year.
With the retirement of Lava Man in July and the tragic death of Nashoba's Key in May, there has been a notable void at the top of the statebred divisions. Without them, there have been no standouts, but numerous horses have displayed strong performances in recent months.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Belmont Stakes winner Da' Tara will scratch out of Friday night's Grade 2, $350,000 Meadowlands Cup and instead will run in Sunday's Grade 2, $150,000 Jerome Handicap at Belmont Park, trainer Nick Zito said Friday morning.
Zito said he didn't like the fact that there was so much speed in the Meadowlands Cup and that Da' Tara figured to be part of a hot early pace. Also, the Jerome affords Da' Tara the opportunity to run against only 3-year-olds one more time.
Pyro will have to overcome the outside post in a field of 12 if he is to win the Grade 2, $500,000 Indiana Derby on Saturday at Hoosier Park. Pyro is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the Indiana Derby, one of three stakes on Hoosier Park's biggest racing day of the year.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - It might be fairly said that the racing business has been a microcosm of the American economy this year. Substantial declines in handle at Churchill Downs, Saratoga, Del Mar, and Arlington Park were followed by similarly disappointing numbers at the Keeneland September yearling sales.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Casino Drive, the winner of the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park in May who missed the Belmont Stakes in June because of a bruised foot, arrived in California on Wednesday to prepare for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Oct. 25.
Thursday, Casino Drive was in quarantine at Hollywood Park. He was scheduled to be released from quarantine on Friday and will have his first exercise on the racetrack on Saturday or Sunday, according to Nobutaka Tada, spokesman for owner Hidetoshi Yamamoto and trainer Kasuo Fujisawa.
