For Immediate Release
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011
Remington Park Growth Continues: New Record for Daily Purses; Per Race Wagering Increases
OKLAHOMA CITY – Ted’s Folly put a cap on the 2011 Remington Park Thoroughbred Season on Dec. 10 when he rallied from last to win the $315,000 Springboard Mile, the feature event for 2-year-olds preparing a campaign toward the Kentucky Derby. The astounding win was the sixth consecutive of his undefeated season here.
The Springboard Mile program also wrapped up another successful racing season in Oklahoma City. The 67-date session experienced a 2.6% increase in pari-mutuel handle per-race contested compared to the 2010 season of the same length. Through 615 betting races this year, 24 less than a year ago, the average handle per race was $86,980.
Horsemen continued their support of the Remington Park racing program, filling the fields and receiving a new record for daily purse distribution during the Thoroughbred Season. Total purses reached $14,862,598 for a daily average of $221,830, both up 2.9% compared to 2010 when the prior record was established. A total of 6,008 starters competed during the season for an average field size of 9.8 per event over the 615 races.
Fans continued their support of Remington Park’s entertainment experience of racing and casino gaming as well with total attendance for the season at 491,114, up 6.4% from a year ago. The Labor Day afternoon racing program along with the Oklahoma Derby Day, the Oklahoma Classics Night and the final evening of the season, featuring the Springboard Mile, all boasted crowds in excess of 10,000. The Labor Day crowd of 15,531 was tops for the meeting.
“Remington Park guests were treated to thrilling moments throughout the season,” said Scott Wells, Remington Park president and general manager. “We’re grateful to our fans, our horsemen and our dedicated staff for making Remington Park the most popular attraction in the city. We’ll reach two million visitors by the end of the year.”
Live wagering at Remington Park along with handle from export wagering was nearly even with that of 2010. The live handle totaled $5,012,053, a slight decrease of 0.7%. The export handle played at jurisdictions outside of Remington Park was 0.8% lower at $48,161,397.
The overall handle wagered on Remington Park: consisting of wagering on-track, wagering at off-track sites operated by Remington Park and export wagering to other jurisdictions, was $53,492,493, a mere 1.3% lower compared to the 2010 season, which featured 24 more races.
The importing of simulcast races to Remington Park on live race dates experienced growth as $5,458,955 was wagered throughout the season, up 3.1% compared to the 2010 import handle.
Live racing is now on hiatus at Remington Park until the beginning of the 2012 American Quarter Horse & Mixed-breed Season on March 2.
Open daily at 10am for casino gaming and simulcast racing, Remington Park also features the Bricktown Brewery on the casino floor. Admission, general parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park.
Remington Park is Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino, located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.
For more
information, contact:
Dale Day
405-425-3215, 405-326-7496 (m)