NEWS
Keeneland meet posts third-highest attendance
Posted: Friday, April 24, 2009 8:21 PM
Keeneland Race Course concluded its 15-day spring meet on Friday with the third-highest total attendance figure in track history.
Total attendance was 240,755 at the Lexington track during the meet, which opened on April 3. That figure is a 1.2% decrease compared with last year’s 16-day spring meet, attended by 243,606.
A track record 244,145 fans attended the 2006 spring meet.
This year’s average daily attendance of 16,050 was the second highest in Keeneland history. Average daily attendance increased 5.4% compared with 2008, when daily average attendance was 15,225.
The 2006 spring meet also set a track record with an average on-track crowd of 16,276.
An on-track crowd of 33,680—the second largest in the history of the track—turned out on April 18 for Coolmore Lexington Stakes (G2) day. That day was one of two during the j meet that more than 30,000 fans attended racing at the track. A crowd of 30,550 on-track fans watched and wagered on the races on April 4.
“We are very gratified by the great turnout from our fans,” said Nick Nicholson, Keeneland’s president and chief executive officer. “Three of the past four spring meets have been the best in Keeneland history, so this is a trend and not an aberration. Our fan base is growing, and we are seeing great loyalty from our new fans. We appreciate their enthusiastic support.”
Though final mutuel handle figures are not yet confirmed, this year’s all-sources wagering during the meet, which includes bets made on live and simulcast races, will exceed $117-million. Approximately $145-million was handled during last year’s meet.
This year’s on-track wagering on live racing totaled $19,243,914, a 9.8% decrease compared with 21,329,702 during the 2008 spring meet. Average daily on-track wagering was $1,282,928, a 3.8% decrease compared with $1,333,106 in 2008.
“Keeneland in the spring is so competitive, because it brings together the best in the country,” said Rogers Beasley, Keeneland’s director of racing. “The top trainers and jockeys converge here; many of them don’t get a chance to race against each other any other time. We’ve had a very safe meet, filled with some spectacular racing.”
Jockey Julien Leparoux captured his fourth Keeneland riding title after finishing with 27 wins. Kent Desormeaux finished second in the rider standings with 17 victories.
Racing Hall of Fame member Bill Mott lead the trainer standings with seven wins and earned his fifth Keeneland training title.
George Strawbridge Jr.’s Augustin Stable was the leading owner with six victories. Augustin previously led all owners in terms of wins at the 2001 Keeneland spring meet and finished in a tie for first at the ’05 meet.
