NEWS
All-sources handle increases 13.2% at Colonial
Posted: Thursday, July 22, 2010 5:55 PM
Colonial Downs in New Kent, Virginia, finished its 2010 summer meeting with a 13.2% increase in all-sources wagering handle.
The 40-day, eight-week meet came to a close Wednesday night. All-sources handle was $34,430,600, an average of $860,765, versus $30,413,601 and an average of $760,340 in 2009. Import handle was the difference maker, jumping up 20% to $29,283,633 versus the 2009 total of $24,389,686.
For the first time in ten years, Colonial opted not to race a Friday twilight card and instead tried Wednesdays. Also, the entire meet began a week earlier, on Memorial Day weekend, instead of early June.
Attendance decreased 11.5% to a total of 59,962 and an average of 1,499 with the revised schedule. On-track handle decreased 15.2% to a total of $4,283,458 and daily average of $126,301.
Jockey Rosemary Homeister, Jr. and trainer Hamilton Smith captured respective meet titles. Virginian David Ross won the owner’s title again, scoring 13 wins. William Backer finished second with ten triumphs.
Of 381 total races, 342 were contested on the Secretariat Turf Course, while just 39 were on dirt. Average starters per race was 7.73, down a horse per race over 2009’s 8.89. Average starters per dirt event was 6.97 while turf starters were 7.82.
Donegal Racing’s Paddy O’Prado made headlines by becoming the third horse ever to sweep both of the track’s marquee turf events --- the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup (G2) and the $600,000 Virginia Derby (G2). English Channel accomplished the feat in 2005 and Battle of Hastings (GB) achieved the double last year.
Colonial will open its harness meet on September 17. The seven-week, 28-day campaign runs through November 6.
