Nighttime handle explodes as Assiniboia returns

The return of Assiniboia Downs sparked handle increases at all three nighttime tracks this week, as handle for tracks that started after 6 p.m. EDT increased 9.9 percent from last year while daytime tracks slipped 12.4 percent.

Overall handle the first two days of the week was $21,840,465, with Assiniboia, Mountaineer and Prairie Meadows accounting for $5,593,716, or 25.6 percent, of that total. Last year's handle was $23,643,865, with the nighttime trio doing $5,091,798, or 21.5 percent of the market. That means for every $25 bet this week, an extra dollar was bet at night versus during the day.

And Assiniboia was a big part of that shift, increasing 7.7 percent to $2,545,065 across its opening two days versus $2,362,843 on the same days last year. Assiniboia ran six races opening night and eight races on the second night this year versus a 7-7 split last year.

"The excitement around opening day was over the top this year, as Monday's (opening night) attendance was one of the largest we have seen in recent memory," Assiniboia CEO Darren Dunn said. "The wagering was fantastic, and the atmosphere was electric, especially with the Indian Horse Relay racing as part of the Manito Ahbee Festival and the historically important flag raise. It set the tone for a great season."

In response to the great handle, Assiniboia increased the guarantee on its $1, non-jackpot Pick 4 wager to about US$38,000 each night. The pick 4 is on the last four races each night. Pick 4 handle was up 26 percent versus opening week last year.

A potential reason for the daytime decreases is that both Parx and Horseshoe Indianapolis were off the turf,. Two tracks that have only dirt racing, Finger Lakes and Jack Thistledown, both were up at least 4 percent for these two days.

Horse Racing Nation coverage of the 2024 Assiniboia Downs racing season is made possible in part through a sponsorship by the Manitoba Jockey Club.