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Keeneland concludes with second-highest attendance, handle figures Keeneland reported the second-highest attendance and wagering figures in spring meet history -- 243,606 and $150.5 million, respectively -- for its 2008 spring race meeting. On-track attendance of 243,606 represents a 13 percent increase over last spring's total of 215,030, and fell just behind the record total of 244,145 set during the 2006 spring meet. Average daily attendance of 15,225 rose 6 percent from 14,335 in 2007, and ranks third-highest behind 2006 (16,276) and 2004 (15,522). Attendance totaled 20,000 or more on four of the 16 spring race dates. All-sources wagering (on-track and off-track wagering and whole-card simulcasting conducted at Keeneland) totaled $150,471,818, the second-highest spring meet handle and just 5 percent off last spring's record of $158,368,309. Average daily all sources handle was $9,404,489, down 10.9 percent from last year's record $10,557,887. On-track wagering, which includes incoming simulcasts, totaled $25,973,789 for 16 days, up slightly from $25,859,224 for 15 days last year. The average of $1,623,362 dipped 5.8 percent when compared to last spring's average of $1,723,948. "The competitive level of racing at Keeneland this spring has been unparalleled," said Keeneland President and CEO Nick Nicholson. "Polytrack has attracted more trainers and more horses from across the country and Canada, horses that normally don't race against each other. I think it made for an exciting race meet." Nicholson attributed the dip in wagering to a combination of factors, including a downturn in the economy; the loss of two days of simulcasting Keeneland at Santa Anita due to changes in the Southern California track's racing schedule; current volatility in the advance deposit wagering market; and the difficulty some handicappers experienced with the competitive race fields and Polytrack surface. "As someone said to me, there's been a learning curve with Polytrack for trainers and jockeys, and it's the same for handicappers," Nicholson said. Keeneland realized several wagering records surrounding the April 12 Blue Grass S. (G1), when 12 horses, the largest field since 1983, went postward. Records were set for the exacta pool ($1,138,124), trifecta pool ($1,051,060), superfecta ($549,415) and Pick 3 that included the Blue Grass ($212,378). Total handle of $18,738,582 was the second-highest recorded on Blue Grass Day. Purses for the spring meet totaled $10,016,860, for an average daily purse of $626,054. Todd Pletcher earned his second leading trainer title with 14 wins. He saddled the top two finishers in the Blue Grass, Monba (Maria's Mon) and Cowboy Cal (Giant's Causeway), and a week later won the Lexington S. (G2) with Behindatthebar (Forest Wildcat), one of four winners he saddled on the card, equaling a 13-year-old Keeneland training record. During the meet, Pletcher increased his career wins at Keeneland to 107. With the Blue Grass and Lexington victories, he now has won 23 stakes at Keeneland and is third among the track's all-time leading trainers by stakes wins. Bill Mott ranked second in the trainer standings with eight wins, while George "Rusty" Arnold finished third with six victories for the meet. Kent Desormeaux won his first Keeneland riding title with 22 wins, boosted by two days (April 12 and April 17) on which he won four races on a single card. Desormeaux also took the Doubledogdare S. (G3) with Carriage Trail (Giant's Causeway). John Velazquez, winner of the Lafayette S. Keep Laughing (Distorted Humor) and the Appalachian S. (G3) with Alwajeeha (Dixieland Band), finished second in the rankings with 15 wins. William T. Young Jr.'s Overbrook Farm and G. Watts Humphrey Jr. (and partners) shared spring meet leading owner honors, finishing in a tie with four wins each.
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