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Oregon’s Grants Pass Downs Completes Record-Breaking Season

Continuing its upward trajectory as Oregon's premier horse racing track, Grants Pass Downs established a new record for total handle during the 17-day spring/summer meeting that concluded Monday, July 6.

Total handle for the spring/summer meeting was a record $6,919,434, with a daily average handle of $407,026. The meet, which featured 138 total races, paid out $1,130,916 in purses and a $66,524 daily average. Average field size was 7.34.

Grants Pass Downs President Randy Evers cited the support of horsemen, the return of fans, and the nationwide support of horseplayers as highlights.

“I am so grateful for the support of our fans both locally and across the country as Grants Pass Downs continues to grow and set wagering records,” Evers said. “It was very special to welcome back all of our great fans at Grants Pass Downs as Covid restrictions were relaxed.

“To hear the roar of the crowd as the horses left the starting gate, well it was something I really missed and brought a huge smile to my face. Our entire team is working hard to prepare for our fall race meet. I have every confidence it will be another giant step forward on our incredible adventure!”

There were numerous on-track achievements during the 17-day spring/summer season:

• Joree Scriver with 23 wins and Quinn Howey with 13 wins each captured their second straight riding and training crowns at Grants Pass Downs.

• 6-year-old gelding El Alto Hombre reeled off four consecutive wins including three stakes triumphs for trainer Liz Kowalski and owner Anthony Hoover; 4-year-old filly Jaded Tiger also won four races including two stakes for owner/trainer Jaqueline Smith.

• 2-year-old gelding Five Bars Blazin scored a $34.80 upset in the $90,000 Firecracker Futurity—the richest race in the history of Grants Pass Downs—before a season-high 3,130 fans.

• 7-year-old gelding Capes Hot Rocket swept all three legs of the inaugural O B Harbor Sprint Series sponsored by Jody Peetz and the Oregon HBPA.

Grants Pass Downs resumes live racing Monday, Sept. 20, with opening day of the 18-day Fall meeting.

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Woodbine Sees Record Handle On Its Long-Awaited Opening Day

The 2021 Thoroughbred meet kicked off on Saturday afternoon with an opening day record handle of $6.9 million at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

With the start of the 2021 campaign delayed nearly two months due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing provincial restrictions, horseplayers were clearly eager for the return of live racing at Woodbine Racetrack, taking advantage of strong field sizes to wager a total of $6,912,477 on the season-opening 11-race card.

The $6.9 million handle broke the previous opening day handle record of $5.5 million in 2020, which was also a delayed opening day due to the pandemic.

Woodbine's extensive wagering menu saw horseplayers flood the featured multi-leg wagers on opening day. A total of $147,660 was wagered on the Early Pick-4, $160,339 on the Late Pick-4, and $128,908 on the Early Pick-5.

The afternoon's eighth race (14-horse, mile, maiden allowance on the E.P. Taylor turf course) generated the largest single-race handle of the day at $1.1 million.

The average per race handle was $628,407.

The 2021 meet continues Sunday with a 13-race card, with a 1:20 p.m. post time. Following opening weekend, live (spectator-free) racing resumes Friday at Woodbine and continues through the weekend. The regular schedule of live racing four-days-a-week will start on Thursday, June 24.

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Record Handle for Non-Triple Crown Year at Belmont

With a stellar eight Grade I races on the card including the 153rd Belmont S. presented by NYRA Bets, Belmont Park generated all-sources handle of $112,725,278 Saturday. The amount marks a New York Racing Association (NYRA) record for a non-Triple Crown year, in spite of limited attendance and restrictions on track due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2021 all-sources handle is a greater than 10% increase over the previous non-Triple Crown record of $102,163,280, set in 2019. On-track handle for the 13-race card was $7,532,571.

All-sources handle on the Belmont S. was $60,459,330, with Essential Quality (Tapit) winning the Elmont track's flagship $1.5-million race. Paid attendance was 11,238, with capacity restricted in accordance with New York State guidelines. Last year, the Belmont was run with no spectators and as the opening leg of the Triple Crown with the race distance also abbreviated to nine furlongs instead of its traditional 12 furlongs. It returned to its usual distance this year.

The three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which featured 17 black-type events and 33 races from Thursday to Saturday, generated all-sources handle of $141,984,866.

The Belmont Park spring/summer meet continues through July 11.

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Black-Eyed Susan Day Produces Record Handle

Black-Eyed Susan Day at Pimlico Race Course produced a record total handle of $27.675 million. Friday's record handled eclipsed the previous record set in 2019 of $21.349 million. Attendance Friday on the day was capped at 10,000.

“We're pleased Black-Eyed Susan Day produced some fantastic racing by some extraordinary horses, and it was nice to see people at the track having a fantastic time,” said Craig Fravel, CEO 1/ST RACING. “We want to thank the horsemen for supporting this day of racing and our racing office that did such a great job putting the program together. We're looking forward to Saturday and Preakness 146.”

The post Black-Eyed Susan Day Produces Record Handle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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