Attendance up, handle down at Lone Star

Lone Star Park ended its 52-day, 2011 spring Thoroughbred meeting with a 10

percent increase in average daily attendance. The largest average daily

attendance increase in Lone Star Park history.

Average daily attendance increased to 7,621 from 6,952 for 60 days in 2010.

Overall, 396,281 fans came through the turnstiles for live Thoroughbred racing

at Lone Star Park in 2011, which was conducted from April 14 through July 10.

"We are extremely pleased with a 10-percent increase in average daily

attendance despite the 3rd hottest June in Dallas/Fort Worth History, an

historic NBA World Championship run by the Dallas Mavericks, and record

attendance by the Texas Rangers," Lone Star Park President and General Manager

Drew Shubeck said. "These results show that horse racing is a viable

entertainment offering in one of the most competitive sports and entertainment

markets in the country. The future is even brighter as we look forward to the

multi-million dollar renovations by our new owner, Global Gaming Solutions, that

begin next week."

John Elliott, Chief Executive Officer of Global Gaming Solutions, was also

pleased with the meeting.

"We're thrilled with the results from the Thoroughbred season and we will

continue to reenergize Lone Star Park with Global Gaming Solutions entertainment

expertise and capital improvements," Elliott said. "We'd like to extend a hearty

congratulations to all horsemen, customers and employees whose hard work,

dedication and persistence kept Lone Star Park a viable entertainment option the

past three seasons, during a difficult transition with bankruptcy, ownership

change and a poor economy."

Average daily on-track wagering showed positive gains over 2010 levels as

well. On-track average daily wagering was $302,187, representing a  four

percent increase over last year's average of $290,569. A total of $15.7 million

was wagered on live racing at Lone Star Park this year compared to $17.4 million

with eight extra days in 2010.

Average daily simulcast out was $762,653 in 2011 compared to $833,915 in

2010, An 8.5 percent decrease. Average daily wagering on the live product

experienced a  five percent decline from $1,124,843 last year compared to

$1,064,840 in 2011.

"We're happy with the live product wagering numbers, especially the live

on-track handle average increase," Shubeck said. "We continue to be disappointed

in the simulcast out number. This decline is a signal that the national

simulcast customer is telling us they are not interested in our product

offering. We need to continue to work with our new owners, Remington Park and

other Texas racetracks to improve the quality of racing, not only at Lone Star

Park, but throughout the region.

"The decreases in our on-track and all-sources handle are consistent with

what's happening around the country and largely due to the national economic

downturn," Shubeck explained. "Although illegal, the continued penetration of

internet wagering into our market is a major challenge, and until legislation is

passed in Texas that regulates advanced deposit wagering, we will continue to

lose jobs and valuable purse money for Texas horsemen."

On the track, there were a total of 4,243 starters in 477 races compared to

4,689 runners in 564 races during the 60-day meeting in 2010. Average field size

was 8.9 per race, an increase of 0.6 (seven percent) from last year's average of

8.3.

Average daily purses increased seven percent from $150,871 last year to

$161,719 in 2011.

With 66 wins, Lone Star Park's all-time leading rider Cliff Berry won his

fourth riding title. Berry previously won the Lone Star Park riding title in

2005, 2006, and 2008. Chris Landeros, the 2009 and 2010 Lone Star Park riding

champion, finished second with 61 winners and Luis Quinonez finished third with

53 wins.

Trainer Bret Calhoun captured his second consecutive Lone Star Park training

title with 50 wins. Calhoun recorded his first Lone Star Park training title in

2010 with 62 wins during the 60-day stand. Karl Broberg claimed the runner-up

spot in the trainer standings with 36 wins, and Lone Star Park's all-time

leading trainer Steve Asmussen finished third with 33 wins. Asmussen is three

wins shy of becoming the first trainer to record 1,000 wins at Lone Star Park.

For the fourth straight year, Lone Star Park's all-time leading owner, Tom

Durant, captured the owner title. After setting a single season record for wins

in 2010 with 37, Durant claimed the 2011 title with 18 wins. This marks the

eighth owner's title at Lone Star Park for Durant who previously won the award

in 2010, 2009, 2008, 2005, 2004, 2000 and 1998.

Wasted Tears (Najran), winner of the $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff (G3) on May

30, was named the Horse of the Meet. In winning the 2011 Ouija Board, the

six-year-old captured the premier event for fillies and mares at Lone Star Park

for a third consecutive year.