Wagering down, attendance up for Pimlico meet

The Maryland Jockey Club concluded its spring meeting at Pimlico Race

Course last weekend, posting average wagering figures which were 22

percent lower than the 2010 spring meet. The average daily handle fell

from $6.26 million to $4.87 million. The meet featured 29 live racing

dates, nine more than a year ago, and 21 simulcast days.

Rain forced racing officials to move turf races to the main track on

11 live racing days, significantly reducing field size.

"When you lose more than a third of your turf racing because of

weather during a brief meeting the disappointment is played out in the

numbers," Maryland Jockey Club President Tom Chuckas said. "It is

a given, grass racing equals bigger fields and a larger handle."

Attendance was up nearly 10 percent at Pimlico as the Preakness

S. (G1) day crowd

increased from 95,760 to 107,398. Performances by Grammy Award winners Train and

Bruno Mars in the infield and a 14-horse field for the middle jewel of racing's

Triple Crown contributed to a festive event.