Increases in on-track and all-sources wagering were posted for Turfway Park’s
Holiday Meet, which concluded on December 31.
During the 25-day meet, on-track wagering totaled $3,479,946, representing a
7.5 percent increase compared to last year. Wagering on Turfway races from
all-sources rose 18.7 percent to $88,224,228.
“Our business has steadily increased since we installed Polytrack in
September 2005,” said Robert N. Elliston, Turfway’s president and CEO. “But
after a couple of recent meets, we also rightly attributed some of the increase
to such factors as the effects of Hurricane Katrina, renewed agreements with
certain OTBs, and the fact that we did not have to cancel races last winter.
There are no such factors behind the numbers for this meet, so we see even more
clearly the impact of Polytrack on our business. These numbers represent the
betting public’s growing interest in Turfway Park racing, plain and simple.”
Eight of nine races were canceled on December 13 due to a power outage, but
seven of those races were made up during the remainder of the meet. A total of
259 races were run during the Holiday Meet, compared to 247 during the same
period in 2005.
Jockey Miguel Mena earned his first Turfway riding title with 42 wins from
200 mounts, followed by apprentice Alonso Quinonez in second with 30 scores from
210 mounts.
Greg Foley and D. Michael Smithwick, who each saddled seven winners, shared
leading trainer honors. Foley picked up his second Holiday
Meet title and fifth overall, while Smithwick garnered his first.
Five winners
gave David A. Ross the leading owner crown, with Gus Goldsmith in second with
four winners.
Taking all three of Turfway’s 2006 meets together, the track showed an
on-track handle increase of 13.5 percent to $15,558,289, while the all-sources
wagering rose 41.3 percent to $345,128,726. Total purses paid in 2006 increased
5.5 percent to $16,368,342, while average field sizes held steady at 8.8
starters per race.
The 2007 Winter/Spring Meet began January 1 and will run through April 5 with
a first post of 5:30 p.m. (ET) Wednesday through Friday, and 1:10 p.m. on
Saturdays and Sundays. The highlight of the meet, the $500,000 Lane’s End S.
(G2), is set for March 24.