Horsetrack news source: Thoroughbred Times - http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/
Evangeline Downs meet concludes with significant handle gains
Evangeline Downs recently concluded its 92-day spring-summer Thoroughbred meet and reported gains in on-track handle and total handle from last year\'s meet, which was the first at its new track in Opelousas, Louisiana.
Buoyed by three nights that each total more than $2-million in all-source handle, including an all-time record handle of $2,182,506 wagered on the second annual Louisiana Legends night on June 30, total handle was $142,571,255, an increase of more than $45-million. The average daily handle of $1.55-million was more than 32.5% higher last year.
Average field size was almost ten runners per race, one of the highest in the nation.
Increased business and casino proceeds also drove purses to an all-time level, according to a press release from the track. The daily purse distribution of more than $170,000 was $10,000 more per day than last year.
\"While we are certainly proud of our season and the success we\'ve enjoyed, we have no plans to rest on our laurels,\" said Executive Director of Racing Operations David Yount. \"Our seven-furlong chute was opened just past the mid-point of our season and this offered horsemen more options and also allowed us to card full 14-horse fields at both 6 1/2 and seven furlongs in addition to our six-furlong races, which our fans and bettors clearly enjoyed.
\"Construction of a seven-furlong turf course is set to begin in the near future, and the expansion of our [off-track betting] parlors and network are just two more steps in our long range goal of becoming the preeminent destination site in Louisiana.\"
Keith Bourgeois won his third consecutive training title, sending out 61 winners from 258 starters. Kirk Leblanc captured jockey title, with 80 winners from 354 mounts. |
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