Combined on-track, in-state and out-of-state wagering on Turfway Park races
in 2004 was up 9.2 percent over 2003. On-track wagering declined 1 percent to $13,114,642, in-state wagering held
steady at $20,892,461 and out-of-state handle jumped 10.9 percent to
$212,040,115. Total wagering came to $246,047,218.
The 2004 Winter/Spring Meet had a 20 percent increase in wagering, while the
Fall Meet held steady, showing a 0.5 increase over 2003. The just completed
22-day Holiday Meet had a 4.3 decline in wagering to $53,987,705. The drop was
attributed in part to losing two days of live racing due to a winter storm and
closing the track on a Friday night and Saturday for the annual two-day
Christmas holiday.
Purses for the year dropped 1.3 percent to $15,741,990 over 99 days of
racing, five more days than in 2003.
Dean Servis captured the Holiday Meet riding title, booting home 39 winners.
Ramsey Zimmerman and Bill Troilo were second and third with 24 and 17 wins,
respectively.
Bernie Flint, Wayne Mogge, and George Leonard III tied for leading trainer
honors with seven victories each. Mogge’s wins came from just 20 starters, a 35
percent win clip.
Louis O’Brien was the meet’s leading owner with six wins from 21 starters.
For the year, Rafael Bejarano led all riders at Turfway Park with 189 wins
from 628 mounts. His mounts earned $2,642,020, a mark that shattered the
previous earnings record, set in 1999 by Francisco Torres, by more than
$700,000. His overall numbers resulted from a record-breaking 150 wins during
the Winter/Spring Meet and a near-record 35 victories during the Fall Meet.
Bejarano won eight stakes races in 2004 at the Northern Kentucky track.
Flint took the overall leading trainer honors for the eighth consecutive year
with 31 wins, including five stakes victories. Greg Foley finished in second,
just one win behind.
Leading owner for the year was M.Y. Stables, owned by Ron McKay. The stable
had 11 winners from 74 starters.