Delta Downs boasts handle increases from concluded meet

Delta Downs concluded its 2011-2012 Thoroughbred

season on Saturday night, and the 88-day meet produced record handle amounts in

several categories as well as sizable increases in handle year over year.

Overall, the season produced a 5.62 percent increase in total handle from last year.

The 2011-2012 meeting attracted $129,156,637 in total wagers compared to

$122,282,916 for 2010-2011.

The average daily amount wagered on Delta Downs this year was $1,467,689

compared to $1,405,551 last year. That represented an increase of 4.42 percent.

"We would like to thank all the horsemen and race fans that have made the

last five months of racing at Delta Downs such a great success," said Steve

Kuypers, vice president and general manager of Delta Downs. "Their support, along with the hard work and dedication of our entire

staff, made for a tremendous season and we are looking forward to an even

brighter future."

This year's $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot program, which featured the

season's only graded stakes, attracted an all-time record of $4,434,099 in total

wagers from all sources. That figure represented a 16.1 percent increase over last year

when fans poured $3,817,916 into the biggest race day of the meeting.

The Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot race also set a record of $1,306,435 in

handle. That figure marked a 17.8 percent increase over the $1,108,577 in bets placed

on the same race last year.

Delta Downs stakes schedule was also very lucrative for horsemen this year.

The track conducted 29 added-money events during the season and awarded a total

of $4,235,000 in purse money.