Record Breeders' Cup Handle

Total handle—including money wagered through a non-pari-mutuel betting exchange—on the 2010 Breeders’ Cup World Championships could approach $200 million, according to figures released by Breeders’ Cup.

As of Nov. 8, total pari-mutuel handle from commingled and separate pools was $173,004,133 for the two-day event held Nov. 5-6 at Churchill Downs. Another $23 million-plus was wagered on the betting exchange operated by Great Britain-based Betfair.

FalKirk International’s Ken Kirchner, a Breeders’ Cup wagering consultant, said all separate-pool handle had not yet been accounted for from countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. But as of Nov. 8, the $9.4 million bet into separate pools was up about 13% from 2009.

The World Championships set a common-pool handle record this year. After the last race was run Nov. 6, Breeders’ Cup officials reported two-day common-pool pari-mutuel handle of $163,619,784, up 13% from $144,599,205 for two days at Santa Anita Park in 2009.