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Keeneland meet concludes Keeneland concluded its 2008 spring race meeting on Friday by recording the second-highest attendance and wagering figures in spring meet history. On-track attendance for the 16-day meet, which began on April 4, totaled 243,606, up 13.3 percent over last spring's total of 215,030, and just behind the record total of 244,145 set during the 2006 spring meet. Average daily attendance of 15,225 rose 6.2 percent from 14,335 in 2007, and ranks third-highest behind 2006 (16,276) and 2004 (15,522). Though final handle figures are not yet confirmed, total all-sources wagering (on-track and off-track wagering and whole-card simulcasting conducted at Keeneland) will exceed $150.45 million, the second-highest spring meet handle and just 5 percent off last spring's record of $158,368,308. "This spring, the competitive level of racing at Keeneland has been unparalleled," Keeneland President and CEO Nick Nicholson said. "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's made for an exciting race meet." Todd Pletcher earned his second leading trainer title with 14 wins. On April 12, he saddled the top two finishers in the Blue Grass S. (G1), MONBA (Maria's Mon) and COWBOY CAL (Giant's Causeway), and a week later won the Lexington S. (G2) with BEHINDATTHEBAR (Forest Wildcat). Behindatthebar was one of four winners Pletcher saddled on April 19, 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. "Winning the Blue Grass and the Lexington in itself would make it a successful meet," said Pletcher, whose first meet title came in 2005, when he saddled a spring meet record 16 wins. "We've had some two-year-olds going pretty well, which is exciting. Then we won four races on Saturday, which was a lot of fun. So we're pleased with the overall results." 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 total 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. with KEEP LAUGHING (Distorted Humor) and the Appalachian S. (G3) with ALWAJEEHA (Dixieland Band), finished second in the rankings with 15 wins. "The racing here is so tough and the horses are coming from everywhere, Canada, Gulfstream, Fair Grounds, and Oaklawn," remarked trainer Claude R. "Shug" McGaughey, who ranked among the spring meet's top 10 trainers and won the Elkhorn (G3) on closing day with DANCING FOREVER (Rahy). "Because of the Polytrack, guys who used to bring eight to 10 horses here are now bringing 36. I used to bring four or five horses, and I brought 18 this spring. If all goes well, those 18 will make almost 20 starts this meet. As a trainer, the Polytrack gives you more options." Trainer Michael Matz agreed. "I usually bring 10 to 12 horses to Keeneland, and this time I brought 32 horses," Matz said. "When you come here, you know you can run no matter if it's on the turf or the Polytrack. It's good competition; it makes the level of racing higher and that's what we're all striving for." 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. It is the third spring meet leading owner title for Overbrook (also 1994 [tie] and 2003 [tie]), and 11th title overall (fall 1990 [tie], 1991 [tie], 1993, 1994 [tie], 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2007). Humphrey previously topped Keeneland's leading owner list in the spring of 1989 and 2003 (tie), and in the fall 2004 and 2006.
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