Gaffalione, Ortiz share riding title at record Churchill meet

Tyler Gaffalione and José Ortiz shared leading-rider honors with 45 wins apiece during the 150th spring meet that ended Sunday at Churchill Downs.

For Gaffalione, it was his 12th Churchill Downs title as leading jockey. It was the first such championship for Ortiz, who began riding in Kentucky this spring.

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With 33 wins, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen collected his record-extending 28th Churchill Downs training title. Juddmonte was the leading owner for a third time with 10 trips to the winner’s circle.

More dollars were wagered than ever during this year’s spring meet. Fueled by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund through historical horse racing, Churchill Downs attracted $708.3 million of wagers during the 43-day stand. That broke the record of $614.8 million set during the 2022 spring meet.

For some perspective, spring-meet betting totaled $368.8 million in 2014.

All sources handle during the six-day Kentucky Derby week April 27-May 4 rose to $446.6 million, including an unprecedented $320.5 million on Kentucky Derby day, to eclipse last year’s Derby-week record of $412.0 million.

The wagering increases continued throughout the final 37 days of the spring meet May 9-June 30 as handle totaled $261.7 million, which was a $38.7 million increase, or 17.4 percent, from the previous post-Derby mark of $223.0 million during the 2022 spring meet.

Saturday’s 12-race Stephen Foster (G1) day card attracted the most wagers in the 43-year history of the event. Betting totaled $18.8 million, a $4.9 million or 35 percent increase from the last time it was held at Churchill Downs in 2022. The $18.8 million milestone also was the second-largest wagering day at the track outside Derby week and the Breeders’ Cup. It was behind only the $19.3 million bet on Stephen Foster preview day May 23, 2020, during the COVID pandemic.

“From record prize money to large fields, high-quality participants, robust wagering and large payouts, this year’s record-breaking spring meet delivered all-around positive results,” said Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs racetrack. “The horse owners, jockeys and trainers provided exceptional competition on the racetrack, and our team and partners delivered an outstanding guest experience. We extend our sincerest appreciation to the horseplayers and the greater Louisville community who made this year’s spring meet so special and enjoyable.”

A record $58.0 million was paid in purses during the nine-week spring meet, which averaged $1.4 million daily. The average purse per race was $139,000. Churchill Downs lured 3,432 starters for its 418 races for an average of 8.2 horses per race.