Keeneland Race Course concluded its 17-day fall meeting on Saturday with handle declines compared with last year but posted near-record on-track attendance.
The total on-track attendance of 239,117 is the second-highest fall meet figure in Keeneland history, trailing only the 239,296 set last year. The average daily attendance of 14,065 was nearly identical to last year’s 14,076 average.
A fall meet Friday record crowd of 22,052 watched and wagered on the races on college scholarship day on October 10. The meet’s single-day high attendance of 24,241 was set on October 18.
“We are thrilled with all the positives to come out of the fall meet, especially considering it was conducted during one of the toughest economic periods in U.S. history,” said Keeneland President Nick Nicholson. “We enjoyed a month of unusually mild weather, strong on-track attendance, the best trainers and jockeys in the world, and some very rewarding special events, such as Make-A-Wish day and military and family day. We absolutely have the best fans in the world, and their energy is what makes Keeneland so special.”
On-track wagering on live racing totaled $19,065,818, an 8.3% decline from last year’s total of $20,790,718. All-sources handle on Keeneland, which included on- and off-track wagers, was $109,487,996, a 17.8% decrease from $133,210,885 in 2007.
The average daily all-sources handle on Keeneland was $6,440,470 compared with $7,835,934 last year.
The race for leading trainer went down to the final day of the meet. Mike Maker finished with nine wins to clinch his first Keeneland training title. Ken McPeek finished second with eight wins.
Jockey Robby Albarado had 22 wins to earn his first Keeneland fall meet riding title. Albarado previously won spring meet riding titles in 2002 and ’04.
.
