The 2019 spring meet at Keeneland concluded Friday with strong cumulative results in wagering and attendance.
Opening on a Thursday for the first time in 60 years, Keeneland saw on-track attendance for the 16-day meet total 242,547 with average daily attendance of 15,159. All-sources wagering on Keeneland racing totaled $153,116,119, with average daily all-sources wagering at $9,569,757. On-track wagering was $16,490,636, with average daily on-track handle at $1,030,665.
While overall attendance and wagering were slightly down from last year, Toyota Blue Grass Day set a record for an opening Saturday crowd of 34,775 fans in attendance. Single-day all-sources handle for the 11-race Blue Grass card totaled a record $25,809,20 with several other single-day records also broken that day, including the daily double pool at a record $249,934. The following Saturday, another multiple graded-stakes program anchored by the GI Coolmore Jenny Wiley S., was witnessed by 34,527 patrons.
Keeneland offered record average daily purses of $770,618 this spring, up 7.84% from last year, to rank among the richest in North America. The leading trainer was Wesley Ward with 11 victories, while Florent Geroux earned the leading jockey title with 15 wins. Four owners tied for the leading owner title with three visits to the winner's circle each: Kirk Wycoff's Three Diamonds Farm; Kosta Hronis's Hronis Racing; Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms; and Robert J. Edwards, Jr.'s eFive Racing Thoroughbreds.
“The extraordinary support and sense of pride the Central Kentucky community demonstrates time and again for Keeneland are truly gratifying,” said Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason. “Keeneland's success is a team effort with contributions from horsemen, sponsors, media partners, local businesses and hospitality, staff, and most of all, our loyal fans. They are the reason we strive to create the most memorable racing experiences possible for each of our guests.”
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