Breeders' Cup 2018 attendance, handle rank among event's best

Following Accelerate’s victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the championships announced that total handle for the two-day event at Churchill Downs was $157,445,841, the fifth highest since Breeders’ Cup adopted a two-day format in 2007.

Total handle on Saturday’s nine Breeders’ Cup races was $96,018,060, a 4% decrease from the $99,833,643 bet on the nine Breeders’ Cup races in 2017. Common-pool handle on Saturday's 12-race Breeders' Cup card was $105,229,197.

Saturday’s attendance was 70,423 and the two-day attendance total was 112,672, the third highest in Breeders’ Cup history. (Attendance in 2017 at Del Mar was capped at 37,500 each day for the comfort of Breeders’ Cup guests.) 

“Once again the Breeders’ Cup proved a fitting showcase for world championship performances and the best in international racing,” said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Craig Fravel. “We want to thank our gracious hosts from Churchill Downs, the greater Louisville community, our fans around the world as well the owners and breeders who participate in our racing programs for an incredible week capped by two extraordinary days of racing.”

This year marked the ninth time the Breeders’ Cup has been held at Churchill Downs. The Breeders’ Cup will return to Santa Anita in 2019, and will be held at Keeneland in 2020 and at Del Mar in 2021. 

Breeders' Cup Two-Day Attendance and Handle (common-pool) history:

2017, Del Mar – 70,420 – $166,077,486 

2016, Santa Anita Park – 118,484; $156,861,811 

2015, Keeneland Race Course – 94,652; $149,869,035 

2014, Santa Anita Park – 98,319; $151,158,813 

2013, Santa Anita Park – 94,628; $160,704,877 

2012, Santa Anita Park – 89,742; $144,272,332 

2011, Churchill Downs – 105,820; $161,512,867 

2010, Churchill Downs – 114,353; $173,857,697 

2009, Santa Anita Park – 96,496; $153,271,176 

2008, Santa Anita Park – 86,588; $155,740,328 

2007, Monmouth Park – 69,584; $129,197,262