Average attendance up, handle down at Hollywood

Average attendance up, handle down at Hollywood

Zenyatta's star burned brightest during the meet (Benoit Photo) Hollywood Park closed its 55-day spring/summer Meet on Sunday with a slight gain in on-track attendance, but was unable to overcome the trend of declining wagering which has hit tracks throughout the nation in the difficult economic times. On-track attendance averaged 6,111 in 2009, up .8 percent from the average of 6,063 during a 60-day meet in 2008. The average on-track handle of $1.4 million was down 9.1 percent from the average of $1.5 million in 2008, while the preliminary all-sources handle of $10.5 million was down 11 percent from the figure of $11.8 million in 2008. Handle figures improved significantly when Hollywood Park went to a four-day race week from a five-day week in mid-May because of a declining number of horses ready to race.

"Judging by results across the country, we feel we did okay -- the best we

could under the circumstances," track president Jack Liebau said. "We feel the

move to a four-day week was the correct course of action. At the time business

was off close to 20 percent and a purse cut would have been necessary had we

continued to run five days a week."

The meeting was highlighted by undefeated 2008 older female champion ZENYATTA

(Street Cry [Ire]) extending her winning streak to 11 for Jerry and Ann Moss

with victories in the Milady H. (G2) and Vanity H. (G1). She carried 129 pounds

in the Vanity, spotting rivals from 13 to 16 pounds while becoming the

highest-weighted winner of the race since Cascapedia carried 129 pounds in 1977.

She was voted Horse of the Meet for the second straight year in the annual media

poll.

J. Paul Reddam and Zayat Stables topped the owners' standings with eight

victories apiece, while Mace and Samantha Siegel's Jay Em Ess Stable was leading

earner among owners with $705,620.

Jockey Joel Rosario earned his first riding title in the United States with

79 winners, ending Rafael Bejarano's streak of six straight major Southern

California riding titles.

Trainer Doug O'Neill won his fourth spring/summer title and eighth Hollywood

Park title with 37 winners.