Churchill Downs Sets Record for Wagers

1 Dec 2003

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – (Press Release) -- Despite ongoing construction that prohibited the use of most of the track's Clubhouse and wintry weather on the meet's final weekend, Churchill Downs reported gains in on-track attendance and wagering and set another record for total wagering during its 27-day "Fall Festival Of Racing" that drew to a close on Saturday, Nov. 29.

Since the 27-day meet consisted of three fewer racing days than last year's 30-day fall session, results of the two meets are compared through daily averages in attendance and wagering. On-track wagering and attendance figures for the "Fall Festival Of Racing" reflect the combined results from Churchill Downs and its Trackside Louisville Off-Track Betting facility, which remained open for the first time during a Churchill Downs meet because of the continuing $121 million renovation at the historic track.

Despite construction-related changes at the famed home of the Kentucky Derby, daily on-track attendance during the 27-day session averaged 6,755, an increase of less than one percent from the 2002 average of 6,735. On-track wagering averaged $1,015,301 per day, a gain of nearly five percent over the daily average of $970,168 during the same meet a year earlier. About 81 percent of the average daily attendance figure and 69 percent of average daily wagering was recorded at Churchill Downs. An average crowd of 5,472 attended the racing programs at Churchill Downs while the daily crowd at Trackside OTB averaged 1,283. Average wagering totaled $700,024 each day at Churchill Downs while the average daily betting at Trackside was $315,277.

The daily average for total wagering on Churchill Downs' "Fall Festival" races soared to a record $7,993,598 -- a jump of nearly 18 percent from the daily average of $6,791,591 during the same session in 2002. That increase was fueled by strong distribution of the track's races through the Churchill Downs Simulcast Network (CDSN). The large and competitive fields in the races offered by Churchill Downs also helped the track increase its share of the simulcast and satellite wagering market. The average number of horses per race during the fall meet was 9.67, an increase from the average field of 9.25 horses in the same meet in 2002.

Churchill Downs' three floors of new Jockey Club Suites, which included 19 suites that were available for daily rental, were utilized for the first time during the "Fall Festival Of Racing." Those new seating options, coupled with a strong emphasis on the highest level of guest service in the new Suites and throughout the track, helped overcome the absence of areas of the Clubhouse that were unavailable because of construction.

"The results of our 'Fall Festival Of Racing' are remarkable when one considers the construction-related changes to our facility and some very tough weather over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend - racing days that are traditionally our best of the fall," said Steve Sexton, president of Churchill Downs. "The increases in our on-track attendance and wagering recorded during the meet can be credited to the hard work and dedication of our employees at Churchill Downs and Trackside, the contributions of our horsemen, and the remarkable dedication of racing fans throughout the region.

"While we are very pleased with the gains made during a challenging meet, we acknowledge that the results are but a small step forward in a market that is increasingly competitive. This fall's on-track attendance and wagering reflected increases over a Fall Meet in 2002 that was one of our most difficult in many years. On-track wagering in the fall at Churchill Downs has declined by nearly 28 percent and attendance is off nearly 23 percent since the introduction of expanded gaming in our market in late 1998. Our renovation project is a large part of our effort to counter that competition, but it remains a very challenging task. To that end, Churchill Downs will continue to pursue alternative gaming to strengthen our position in the marketplace and continue to ensure the viability of Kentucky's number one agribusiness."

Race purses during the "Fall Festival of Racing" totaled $11,448,460, an increase of one percent from 2002. Daily purses averaged $424,017, an increase of nearly 12 percent from the 2002 fall average of $378,609.

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	Churchill Downs Sets Record for Wagers 1 Dec 2003 <a href='https://ad.casinocity.com/adclick.php?n=a21efcd1'><img src='https://ad.casinocity.com/adview.php?what=-site:vendors/width:250/RON&n=a21efcd1' border='0' alt='' /></a> LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – (Press Release) -- Despite ongoing construction that prohibited the use of most of the track's Clubhouse and wintry weather on the meet's final weekend, Churchill Downs reported gains in on-track attendance and wagering and set another record for total wagering during its 27-day "Fall Festival Of Racing" that drew to a close on Saturday, Nov. 29. Since the 27-day meet consisted of three fewer racing days than last year's 30-day fall session, results of the two meets are compared through daily averages in attendance and wagering. On-track wagering and attendance figures for the "Fall Festival Of Racing" reflect the combined results from Churchill Downs and its Trackside Louisville Off-Track Betting facility, which remained open for the first time during a Churchill Downs meet because of the continuing $121 million renovation at the historic track. Despite construction-related changes at the famed home of the Kentucky Derby, daily on-track attendance during the 27-day session averaged 6,755, an increase of less than one percent from the 2002 average of 6,735. On-track wagering averaged $1,015,301 per day, a gain of nearly five percent over the daily average of $970,168 during the same meet a year earlier. About 81 percent of the average daily attendance figure and 69 percent of average daily wagering was recorded at Churchill Downs. An average crowd of 5,472 attended the racing programs at Churchill Downs while the daily crowd at Trackside OTB averaged 1,283. Average wagering totaled $700,024 each day at Churchill Downs while the average daily betting at Trackside was $315,277. The daily average for total wagering on Churchill Downs' "Fall Festival" races soared to a record $7,993,598 -- a jump of nearly 18 percent from the daily average of $6,791,591 during the same session in 2002. That increase was fueled by strong distribution of the track's races through the Churchill Downs Simulcast Network (CDSN). The large and competitive fields in the races offered by Churchill Downs also helped the track increase its share of the simulcast and satellite wagering market. The average number of horses per race during the fall meet was 9.67, an increase from the average field of 9.25 horses in the same meet in 2002. Churchill Downs' three floors of new Jockey Club Suites, which included 19 suites that were available for daily rental, were utilized for the first time during the "Fall Festival Of Racing." Those new seating options, coupled with a strong emphasis on the highest level of guest service in the new Suites and throughout the track, helped overcome the absence of areas of the Clubhouse that were unavailable because of construction. "The results of our 'Fall Festival Of Racing' are remarkable when one considers the construction-related changes to our facility and some very tough weather over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend - racing days that are traditionally our best of the fall," said Steve Sexton, president of Churchill Downs. "The increases in our on-track attendance and wagering recorded during the meet can be credited to the hard work and dedication of our employees at Churchill Downs and Trackside, the contributions of our horsemen, and the remarkable dedication of racing fans throughout the region. "While we are very pleased with the gains made during a challenging meet, we acknowledge that the results are but a small step forward in a market that is increasingly competitive. This fall's on-track attendance and wagering reflected increases over a Fall Meet in 2002 that was one of our most difficult in many years. On-track wagering in the fall at Churchill Downs has declined by nearly 28 percent and attendance is off nearly 23 percent since the introduction of expanded gaming in our market in late 1998. Our renovation project is a large part of our effort to counter that competition, but it remains a very challenging task. To that end, Churchill Downs will continue to pursue alternative gaming to strengthen our position in the marketplace and continue to ensure the viability of Kentucky's number one agribusiness." Race purses during the "Fall Festival of Racing" totaled $11,448,460, an increase of one percent from 2002. Daily purses averaged $424,017, an increase of nearly 12 percent from the 2002 fall average of $378,609.