Handle down, purses up at Fair Grounds

Fair Grounds concluded its shortened and relocated 134th season of racing on

Sunday. The meet was moved to Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana, after

Hurricane Katrina caused significant damage to and forced the temporary closure

of the Fair Grounds track in New Orleans.

Fair Grounds usually conducts 80-plus days of live racing, but this season

was comprised of only 37 race days. Because of the difference in race

days, the track released average daily wagering figures to compare this season

with the 2004-2005 race meet, which featured 82 days of racing.

Total wagering, which includes wagers made on track and at simulcast outlets,

was $134.6 million, or an average of $3.64 million per day. Average daily

wagering from all sources fell 13.1 percent from last season's daily average of

$4.18 million.

On-track wagering totaled $5.96 million, or $161,252 per day, a drop of 27.2

percent from last season's average of $221,481. Average daily simulcast

wagering, which includes wagering at Fair Grounds' off-track betting parlors,

was $3.48 million, a decline of 12.3 percent from the 2004-2005 season.

Because of free admission at Louisiana Downs, attendance was not counted.

Total purse distribution was $14.3 million, for an average of $388,126 per

day, the highest ever for a meet in Louisiana and up 44.9 percent over last season's

average of $267,784 per day.

Better-than-expected business levels at six Southeast Louisiana off-track

betting parlors that Fair Grounds operates accounted for three purse increases

-- one before the meet began on November 19 and two in December. As a result,

average field size of 9.46 rose 13.7 percent over last season's average of 8.32

horses per race.

Steve Asmussen, who saddled 38 winners, captured his sixth consecutive

training title, matching Jack Van Berg's streak of six straight from 1966-71.

Asmussen won a nation-leading 474 races in 2005, the third time in four years he

has achieved the feat.

Jockey Roman Chapa, who rode many of Asmussen's winners, visited the winner's

circle 45 times to earn his first Fair Grounds riding title.

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable and Maggi Moss shared the leading owner crown with

six victories each.

Because of the shortened meet, five graded stakes, including the Louisiana

Derby (G2) and Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), were placed on hiatus for 2006.