Kentucky tracks continued to lead the way after reporting results from their most recent meets.
Speaking during the Jan. 31 Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund Advisory Committee meeting, representatives for Churchill Downs, Keeneland, and Turfway Park all reported increased all-sources handles, starters, and purses.
Churchill Downs' 2022 September meet saw its all-sources handle jump 20% to $75 million, total number of runners increase by 165 for 17.4%, while the purses improved 22% to $13.8 million compared to the 2021 September meet. The most recent meet was conducted with two additional race days than the year before.
The fall meet ran two fewer race days than the year prior, and while the number of starters was down by 35 from 2021, the handle was up more than 4% to $124.5 million and the purses improved by 3.3% to $20.7 million.
Keeneland's fall meet, which did not include the Breeders' Cup dates, set a record for handle at $208 million, up from $181 million, a bump of 15.5%. Keeneland vice president of racing Gatewood Bell noted the national handle in October was down 4.9% while Kentucky was up 15%. Keeneland's on-track handle was up 1.5% to $15.3 million from $15.1 million the previous fall.
The number of starters was up 9.2 per race from 8.7 compared to the spring, and the daily purse average was $1.16 million, plus 32% from $880,000 the year before.
Turfway's 18-day holiday meet, which was two days longer than in 2021, saw the handle jump $5.1 million to $45.3 million. The average number of starters improved from 10 to 10.3 per race, and total purses went from $4.6 million to $3.6 million.
Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association president Rick Hiles called Turfway the "next shining star in the state."
Turfway general manager Chip Bach said the track's new barns are fully occupied and that they will start moving people into the new dorm building Feb. 1. "We were hoping to have it done a month ago, but tomorrow is as good as it gets, so we'll take it."
He said Turfway also added a horsemen's lounge that is attached to the jockeys' building. "It's almost a little too popular sometimes, and that's a good thing," Bach said.
Churchill Downs senior vice president and general manager Mike Ziegler added, "We appreciate everybody's patience. It's an entirely new facility. There's still some growing pains. Looking at the product on the racetrack is the most important thing right now, and we'll catch up with how that's grown with facility needs in the near future."
Bach did not elaborate but added that progress is being made on the historical horse racing machines.
However, Bach said they are trying to elevate the spotlight on the product at Turfway, but it has been problematic getting the attention on Saturdays.
"We calculated we are losing $600,000 to $1 million a day in handle because we can't get on (FanDuel TV). A lot of people are very loyal to the brands that are out there. It's hard to break into that market. There's a lot more money in that market versus the nighttime," he said.
In other meeting news:
* Churchill Downs vice president of finance Austin Schmitt said the track plans to run two additional days during its spring meet as a result of cancellations from last year due to extreme heat. The track sought $9.5 million to $10 million in KTDF payouts for the spring meet and awaits final Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approval.
* Schmitt said of Derby City Gaming, "Derby City continues to perform well. We had a good strong to the end 2022... We have a lot of exciting things to come with the hotel, ongoing construction. We started to add some additional machines with that expansion. We are looking forward to the downtown facility in the second half of '23."
* Ben Huffman, the racing secretary for Churchill Downs and Keeneland, provided an update on Churchill Downs' turf course, which had not settled in as hoped last summer, resulting in limited racing on the surface. "Everything looks good," he said. "There was a lot of good, positive growth with the course last fall, late into the fall... Between our track superintendent, our consultants, we have a positive outlook going into the spring meet. We are anticipating back to normal, if you will."
* Kentucky Downs requested to transfer $1 million in KTDF funds to Keeneland for spring meet. The committee approved the transfer but it awaits final clearance from the KHRC.
* Keeneland proposed that it offer roughly $4.7 million to $5 million in KTDF money in its spring meet. This, too, passed the KTDF committee and needs final approval from the KHRC.
