Churchill Downs has not provided the press with betting and attendance totals and daily averages for the past 1 1/2 years. But in response to a reporter's request several days ago for such information, the track today said it was down 20.8 percent from a year ago in on-track betting on its live races through May 17 and not including Oaks and Derby days. Attendance for live racing was off 7.5 percent from the same time span in 2008, while simulcasting on Churchill's live product was down 17.4 percent (again, excluding Derby and Oaks), according to the track.
The specifics, such as betting totals and/or daily averages, were not provided.
There were nine fewer races during that period this year because of a weather-related cancellation and four days when a race was called off because of lack of entries (after which, Churchill successfully requested dropping a race day a week). Average field size as 7.39 horses per race, down from 7.71, the track said.
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