Oaklawn Park on Thursday announced gains in both attendance and handle over 2018 for the first three days of 2019 live racing.
The total estimated attendance and on-track handle, as well as a record off-track pari-mutuel handle, for Jan. 25-27 exceeded last year's opening weekend, according to a news release.
Oaklawn estimated an attendance of 55,000 for the three days, representing a 62-percent increase over the corresponding period in 2018. The on-track handle of $2,938,316 was up 23 percent, while off-track handle of $11,310,359 increased 22.3 percent.
Total mutuel handle on Oaklawn's races was $14,248,675, a jump of 22.5 percent from 2018, the release said.
Saturday saw the second-highest January figures in Oaklawn's history, with an estimated attendance of 28,000 and total handle of $6,038,759 on the nine races. A January record $4,629,704 was handled off track Saturday.
Oaklawn President Louis Cella alluded to opening the live meet two weeks later than usual being a contributing factor in the increases. The schedule change was made to accommodate an extended season that concludes with the Kentucky Derby on May 4,
"Opening a couple of weeks later than usual, not only were the horsemen ready and the horses ready, but the town was ready," Cella said in the release. "We're tickled to death."
On Jan. 25, the estimated attendance was 20,000, the highest for opening day since 2011, the release said. Saturday featured the annual price-rollback promotion, with corned beef sandwiches and soft drinks reduced to 50 cents and 10 cents, respectively.
Oaklawn had not had an opening weekend crowd of 20,000 since 2012.
Oaklawn's record January attendance of 32,288 came in 1988, the first year the track opened in that month. Saturday's on-track handle of $1,409,055 was the highest in January since 2012.
"It's our fans," Cella said in the release. "Our fans love horse racing. They love the fifth season. They love coming to Oaklawn and we obviously benefit from that. We're so appreciative of that, because no other track in America has the fan base that we have."
Oaklawn set a single-day January record for total handle, $6,213,532, in 1998. That figure included a record $4,197,950 wagered off-track.
Oaklawn estimates attendance after waiving admission in 2015.
Local on 02/01/2019