Tag: record handle

‘A Lot To Celebrate’: Indiana Grand Enjoyed Season Of Records, New Concepts

As another year of Thoroughbred racing comes to a close in Indiana, many are reflecting on a year that set numerous records and implemented a lot of new concepts at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. Brian Elmore, Executive Director of the Indiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA), and Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manger of Racing for Indiana Grand, reviewed all the accomplishments for 2021.

“The camaraderie in Indiana this season was unprecedented and as a result, we undoubtedly had our best year to date,” said Elmore. “We started out with an extensive planning project and were able to achieve everything on the list thanks to everyone coming in and doing their part with one goal in mind – what was best for Indiana.”

Elmore noted the partnership with the Indiana Thoroughbred Breed Development Advisory Committee, led by Jessica Barnes, Indiana Grand led by Joe Morris, Senior Vice President of Racing, and Halstrom, Joe Davis, president of the Indiana HBPA and the board of directors, members of the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITOBA), and members of the Indiana Thoroughbred Alliance (ITA) all contributed to the success from all angles. As a result, the state established numerous records, including the highest amount of money paid for Indiana bred and sired overnights and stakes ($9,096,200), a record for highest amount of money paid in breeders awards ($3,274,045), a record number of Thoroughbred Breed Development races run (400), and a record for highest amount of money paid in stallion awards ($777,205), showing the continued growth and investment in the state's breeding and racing industries.

“Our board really worked hard to ensure we had everything in the right place for racing in 2021,” said Davis. “We spent a lot of time working out details with Indiana Grand track management as well as the Breed Development committee members and it really paid off. We want to thank everyone involved for their time and commitment to Indiana racing.”

Along with state records, Indiana Grand also hit several new marks, including a record for all sources handle ($223,204,265), a record single day handle during Indiana Derby ($6,292,388), and a record number of purses paid at $36,035,650.

“We had a large number of people engaged in our product from the start of the meet,” noted Halstrom. “From the horsemen to racing fans, we had great momentum carrying us through the 123-day racing season. It set the tone as our company continues on the path of expansion and enhancements directly related to the racing program. We have a lot to celebrate.”

Some of the enhancements Halstrom referred to include the current construction of a new 100-stall barn and a 50-room dormitory, the completion of a new Equicizer, the addition of a drone during live racing, and a new lighting and paving project in the barn area. In addition, the track introduced several new lower takeout rates which were appealing to handicappers and had a direct impact on purses, which were increased twice during the season.

The HBPA also implemented several programs throughout the year specifically for their membership base, including a produce stand with reduced rates from mid-May through September, three Ice Cream truck events, two large dinners for those living and working on the backstretch, and an active Chaplaincy program which provided a monthly dinner in addition to transportation for food, medical appointments, and overall ministry on an on-going basis for its member base that exceeds 2,000.

“It just goes to show how strong a program can become when everyone pitches in and works toward a common goal,” added Elmore. “And we feel this is just the beginning. With this momentum, we will continue to work with everyone to take racing to the next level in 2022.”

The 20th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is set to resume Tuesday, April 19 and run through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Racing will be held Monday through Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. with Thursday racing beginning at 3:30 p.m. A total of 12 Saturday racing programs will be held in 2022. For more information on events and racing, go to www.indianagrand.com.

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Economic Indicators: Record Breeders’ Cup Handle Leads Slight Wagering Increases In November

Equibase, North American racing's official database, released Monday its November 2021 statistics for the industry's economic indicators, including field size, wagering, and other data, along with year-to-date and 2019 and 2020 numbers. The database distributes 2020 and 2021 numbers and includes 2019's data for comparisons to pre-COVID-19 pandemic numbers.

Led by a record handle at the Del Mar-hosted Breeders' Cup World Championships on Nov. 5 and 6 ($183,260,127, a two-day record for the championship event), November's total wagering numbers were up 7.40 percent over the same month in 2020. Part of the reason for the increase could be the return of in-person attendance to the Breeders' Cup, which was severely restricted at Keeneland in 2020.

When Del Mar last hosted the Breeders' Cup in 2017, it posted a then-record handle of $166,077,486. The new mark is 10.4 percent higher than that.

Compared to 2019, this November's handle was only 0.62 percent higher, though average wagering per race day sustained a solid 12.04 percent bump between November of 2019 and November of 2021.

Though purses and race days are both up over 25 percent from the same month in 2020, average daily wagering saw a sharp decrease of 17.33 percent, while the year-to-date figures for average wagering are also down nearly 10 percent. That contrasts sharply with the numbers from 2019, which put average wagering up over 20 percent from the first 11 months of 2019 to the same period in 2021.

The discrepancy could be explained by the increased attention horse racing experienced during the harshest months of the pandemic in 2020; this year's return to a more normal sports schedule and in-person activities could definitely play a role in where wagering dollars have been spent.

November 2021 vs. November 2020
Indicator November 2021 November 2020 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $961,813,331 $895,546,532 +7.40%
U.S. Purses $117,678,625 $92,095,830 +27.78%
U.S. Race Days 291 224 +29.91%
U.S. Races 2,440 1,945 +25.45%
U.S. Starts 18,782 16,236 +15.68%
Average Field Size 7.70 8.35 -7.79%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,305,200 $3,997,976 -17.3`3%
Average Purses Per Race Day $404,394 $411,142 -1.64%

YTD 2021 vs. YTD 2020
Indicator YTD 2021 YTD 2020 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $11,409,728,296 $10,171,153,164 +12.18%
U.S. Purses $1,106,048,142 $812,236,796 +36.17%
U.S. Race Days 3,821 3,073 +24.34%
U.S. Races 31,415 25,692 +22.28%
U.S. Starts 230,147 203,122 +13.30%
Average Field Size 7.33 7.91 -7.34%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $2,986,058 $3,309,845 -9.78%
Average Purses Per Race Day $289,466 $264,314 +9.52%

2019 Comparisons:

November 2021 vs. November 2019
Indicator November 2021 November 2019 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $961,813,331 $955,843,009 +0.62%
U.S. Purses $117,678,625 $115,756,315 +1.66%
U.S. Race Days 291 324 -10.19%
U.S. Races 2,440 2,730 -10.62%
U.S. Starts 18,782 21,839 -14.00%
Average Field Size 7.70 8.00 -3.78%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,305,200 $2,950,133 +12.04%
Average Purses Per Race Day $404,394 $357,273 +13.19%

YTD 2021 vs. YTD 2019
Indicator YTD 2021 YTD 2019 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $11,409,728,296 $10,326,096,192 +10.49%
U.S. Purses $1,106,048,142 $1,101,605,086 +0.40%
U.S. Race Days 3,821 4,173 -8.44%
U.S. Races 31,415 34,038 -7.71%
U.S. Starts 230,147 254,992 -9.74%
Average Field Size 7.33 7.49 -2.21%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $2,986,058 $2,474,502 +20.67%
Average Purses Per Race Day $289,466 $263,984 +9.65%

* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.

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Del Mar 2021 Seasons: Record Handle, Safe Racing Among Highlights

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., brought to a close its 2021 racing calendar on Sunday with the conclusion of its eighth Bing Crosby Season adding additional luster to its robust summer stand. Between them, the pair totaled an exceptional combined final wagering mark of $943.49 million, a record for the seaside oval.

The track could point to many other positives throughout the 2021 year – the return of racing fans, exceptional purses for its horsemen, and hosting another record-setting Breeders' Cup among them. But the standard the track is proudest of is its continuing mark as America's safest major racetrack. Only one horse was injured catastrophically in the 426 races and 3,552 starters that performed during the two sessions, a mark that is unmatched in the country.

Total handle for the four-week, 13-day fall session was $171.58 million. The fall meet average daily handle was a record $13.19 million, which was 1.0% higher than the record average daily handle posted last year.

The Breeders' Cup – conducted at Del Mar on November 5 and 6 – had a common-pool handle of $183,260,127, a two-day record for the championship event.

When Del Mar last hosted the Breeders' Cup in 2017, it posted a then-record handle of $166,077,486. The new mark is 10.4% higher than that.

The two-meet mark of $943.49 million is 21.3% higher than the 2017 standard of $779.97 million. Both years featured Breeders' Cups.

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's CEO, Joe Harper, said he was extremely pleased by events at his track over the year. “I am exceptionally proud of our team and seeing all their hard work come to such wonderful fruition over the course of the two seasons,” he said. “We put on a helluva Breeders' Cup show once again; we were at our best for the best. And we're safe, very safe. That's just the best of all.”

“The racing world once again got to see what we're spoiled with every year – one of the best operations in the industry,” said Gary Fenton, chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners. “Breeders' Cup kicked off another wonderful meet and we're so grateful for the entire DMTC team. TOC couldn't ask for a better partner.”

The track's Ship & Win program – where it encourages horsemen and horsewomen to bring their runners to Del Mar for both of its seasons and has proven to be one of the great thoroughbred magnets in the country – had another banner session. Sixty-seven new runners came to town this fall under the program with six of them making a second start during the Bing Crosby Season. All told, 1,885 “S&W” runners have come to California since the program was put in place 11 years ago.

Its fall Turf Festival again drew high-class runners from across the land to compete in its seven-race stand over the final weekend of the meet. More than a dozen stakes aces shipped in to take on the local runners in the rich events.

The track's fall riding king was Juan Hernandez with his 17 firsts from 79 mounts during the 15-day (counting the Breeders' Cup) session. It is his first riding title at Del Mar. The top trainer was Phil D'Amato who registered 15 firsts from 52 starters. It is his first fall training championship, but his third at the track overall.

Racing will return to Del Mar next July 22 for the track's 83rd summer season.

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38th Breeders’ Cup World Championships Sees Record Handle

Total all-sources common-pool handle for the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., was $182,908,409, a new record for the two-day event.

The total represents a 4.7% increase over the prior record of $174,628,986 set when the event was held at Santa Anita Park in 2019 and a 14.0% increase from the total handle of $160,472,893 at the 2020 event held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

Total common-pool handle on Saturday's 12-race Breeders' Cup card was a record $121,562,392. All sources common-pool handle on Breeders' Cup's 10-race Future Stars Friday card was $61,346,017, also a new record for a Breeders' Cup Friday. This is the fourth consecutive year that Breeders' Cup grouped all its juvenile races together on Friday.

“We had an extraordinary two days of racing showcasing the best Thoroughbreds from around the world and we want to thank our partners here at Del Mar, who did an amazing job, and the greater San Diego community, our gracious hosts this week,” said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming. “The Breeders' Cup is a truly global event with winners this weekend bred, raised, and raced on three different continents.”

On-track handle for the two days was $19,032,307. On-track attendance for the two days was 47,089. Due to precautions related to COVID-19, Breeders' Cup and Del Mar reduced ticket capacity for the 2021 event.

“Our team at Del Mar was thrilled to host this year's renewal of the Breeders' Cup,” said Josh Rubinstein, Del Mar's President and Chief Operating Officer. “We want to extend our congratulations to all of this weekend's participants. They put on an amazing display of world-class competition.”

The Breeders Cup World Championships will return to Keeneland in 2022.

Breeders' Cup Two-Day Attendance and Handle (common-pool) history:

Year Location Attendance Handle
2021 Del Mar 47,089 $182,908,409
2020 Keeneland No Attendance Reported $160,472,893
2019 Santa Anita 109,054 $174,628,986
2018 Churchill Downs 112,672 $157,445,841
2017 Del Mar 70,420 $166,077,486
2016 Santa Anita 118,484 $156,861,811
2015 Keeneland 94,652 $149,869,035
2014 Santa Anita 98,319 $151,158,813
2013 Santa Anita 94,628 $160,704,877
2012 Santa Anita 89,742 $144,272,332
2011 Churchill Downs 105,820 $161,512,867
2010 Churchill Downs 114,353 $173,857,697
2009 Santa Anita 96,496 $153,271,176
2008 Santa Anita 86,588 $155,740,328
2007 Monmouth Park 69,584 $129,197,262

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