Total two-day common-pool handle for the Friday and Saturday race
cards of the 29th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park was
$144,272,332, Breeders' Cup announced today.
Wagering on Saturday's 12-race Breeders' Cup card was $96,685,567,
a slight decline from the 2011 handle of $105,472,442 when the event was held
at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. The on-track handle for the two days at
Santa Anita was $20,680,143, a slight increase over the $19,208,111 total for
the 2009 event at Santa Anita, the last time the Championships were held at the
iconic Southern California racetrack.
A
crowd of 55,123 was on hand Saturday for the second day of the Breeders' Cup,
bringing the two-day total attendance to 89,742.
“We
were witness to two days of amazing athletic performances by the world's best
Thoroughbreds with winners from the east, midwest, South America, Europe and
California and seven winners this weekend from our Breeders' Cup Challenge series,” said Breeders' Cup
President and CEO Craig Fravel.
The nine
Breeders’ Cup winners Saturday came from across the country as well as from
Ireland. Breeders’ Cup Classic winner
Fort Larned, Filly & Mare Sprint winner Groupie Doll, Mile hero Wise Dan
and Turf champion Little Mike are all based in Kentucky; Sprint victor
Trinniberg is based in South Florida; Juvenile winner Shanghai Bobby and Dirt
Mile upsetter Tapizar last raced in New York; and Turf Sprint heroine
Mizdirection is based in California.
Juvenile Turf winner George Vancouver was part of the Irish-based
contingent of trainer Aidan O’Brien.
“We are gratified by the continued strong interest of racing fans
in Southern California and around the world in the Breeders' Cup,” Fravel
added. “We want to thank our guests, all
of the breeders, owners, trainers and jockeys who competed, our hosts at Santa
Anita Park, and the entire greater Los Angeles community for another excellent
edition of the World Championships.”
Breeders'
Cup officials indicated that the handle totals were in line with expectations
based on the interruption in service from many east coast pari-mutuel outlets
affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Breeders' Cup Two-Day Attendance and Handle (common-pool) history:
2012, Santa Anita Park -- 89,742; $144,272,332
2011, Churchill Downs -- 105,820; $161,512,867
2010, Churchill Downs -- 114,353; $173,857,697
2009, Santa Anita Park -- 96,496; $153,271,176
2008, Santa Anita Park -- 86,588; $155,740,328