Attendance, Wagering Rise for Kentucky Derby
8 May 2006
KENTUCKY – As reported by the Business First: "Wagering and attendance at the 132nd Kentucky Derby rose over last year as a crowd of 157,536 race fans gathered at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
"Attendance was the second largest in Derby history, behind a crowd of 163,628 at the 100th Derby in 1974. Last year's attendance figure was 156,435.
"Total wagering on the Derby race, including on-track and simulcast betting, rose 14 percent to $118.4 million from $104 million last year.
"…Attendance at the Kentucky Oaks on Friday also reached its second-highest mark with a crowd of 108,065 people. The attendance record is 111,000 people in 2005…"