Keeneland's Fall Meet results in record all-sources wagering

Keeneland concluded its 2018 Fall Meet on Saturday with Fall Meet record all-sources wagering of more than $144 million driven by Fall Meet records for single-day all-sources, Pick 4 and Pick 5 handle.

All-sources wagering on live racing at Keeneland (not including whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland) totaled $144,309,944 for the 17-day Fall Meet held Oct. 5-27. The figure surpassed the previous record of $139,660,204 set during the 17-day 2013 Fall Meet.

The total increased 18.57 percent from the $121,712,702 posted for last year’s 17-day Fall Meet. Average daily all-sources wagering of $8,488,820 rose 18.57 percent from $7,159,571 in 2017.

“The quality of Keeneland’s racing program is reflected in the record wagering we experienced this Fall,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “Full, competitive race fields representing the nation’s top owners, trainers and jockeys attracted the support of fans across the country. We thank the Central Kentucky community, our horsemen and corporate partners for a very gratifying racing season.”

Keeneland set Fall Meet wagering records for single-day all-sources handle and Pick 4 and Pick 5 pools on Fall Stars Saturday, Oct. 6. Total all-sources handle of $17,122,465 exceeded the previous Fall Meet single-day record of $15,926,396 set Oct. 8, 2016. 

Keeneland smashed its Fall Meet Pick 4 and Pick 5 wagering records, both also from Oct. 8, 2016. The All-Stakes Pick 4 handle of $737,408 broke the previous record of $479,166. Wagering on the All-Stakes Pick 5 totaled $619,106 to best the former record of $496,723.

On-track attendance and wagering were down slightly when compared to the 2017 Fall Meet. On-track attendance of 241,806 dipped 10.63 percent from last fall’s near-record 270,555. Average daily attendance was 14,224 versus 15,915 in 2017.

On-track wagering totaled $16,419,870, a decrease of 6.69 percent from last year’s $17,597,035. Average daily on-track handle was $965,874 compared to last fall’s $1,035,120.

Fall Meet Leaders

The race for Fall Meet leading owner, trainer and jockey honors went down to closing day.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey won their 21st leading owner title at Keeneland with six wins during the Fall Meet. Eclipse Award winners, the Ramseys are the all-time leading owners at Keeneland by number of races won and meet titles won.

G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and Susan and Jim Hill tied for second in the owner standings with three wins each.

Seven-time Eclipse Award winner Todd Pletcher closed the meet with nine wins to claim his fifth leading trainer title at Keeneland. Pletcher won three races on opening Sunday, led by the Dixiana Bourbon (G3) with Current.

Mike Maker was second with eight wins. Steve Asmussen won seven races to finish third.

Chad Brown won two Grade 1 stakes during the fall: First Lady with A Raving Beauty (GER) and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End with Rushing Fall. 

Eclipse Award-winning jockeys finished 1-2 in the rider standings. Tyler Gaffalione recorded 15 wins during his first full meet of riding at Keeneland to earn leading rider honors. Gaffalione captured two stakes wins: the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) with Next Shares and the Lexus Raven Run (G2) with Shamrock Rose.

Finishing second with 12 victories was Julien Leparoux, who won the Indian Summer with Strike Silver.

Three riders – Jose Ortiz, Ricardo Santana Jr. and Brian Hernandez Jr. – tied for third place with 10 wins each.