Handle tops $60 million for Breeders' Cup on Friday

Breeders' Cup news release
Photo: Bill Denver / Eclipse Sportswire

All-sources handle for the 10-race program on the first day of the 41st Breeders’ Cup World Championships Nov. 1 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club was $63,679,944, the second-highest handle for a Breeders’ Cup Friday and the fourth consecutive year the Friday handle has topped $60 million.

The Future Stars Friday card featured five Breeders’ Cup races for 2-year-old horses, the seventh straight year the Breeders' Cup has carded all its juvenile races on the same day since the event expanded to its two-day format in 2007.

Friday’s on-track attendance was 30,982. On-track handle was $6,683,373.

Breeders’ Cup Friday attendance and handle records
Year Track Attendance Handle
 2024Del Mar     30,982$63,679,944
 2023Santa Anita     43,377$62,136,939
 2022Keeneland     39,851$66,141,766
 2021Del Mar     20,536$61,696,893
 2020Keeneland*            --$51,409,606
 2019Santa Anita     41,243$56,517,228
 2018Churchill Downs     42,249$53,636,272
 2017Del Mar     32,728$52,273,883
 2016Santa Anita     45,673$49,651,600
 2015Keeneland     44,497$46,251,965
 2014Santa Anita     37,205$47,666,982
 2013Santa Anita     35,633$52,594,370
 2012Santa Anita     34,619$48,997,009
 2011Churchill Downs     40,677$52,095,202
 2010Churchill Downs     41,614$54,889,388
 2009Santa Anita     37,651$50,662,945
 2008Santa Anita     31,257$49,473,304
 2007Monmouth Park     27,803$31,499,007

* No attendance was reported for Keeneland in 2020 because of Covid-19.

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