For Immediate Release
Monday, December 13, 2010
REMINGTON PARK HANDLE SKYROCKETS IN RESURGENT THOROUGHBRED SEASON
OKLAHOMA CITY – The 2010 Remington Park Thoroughbred Season came to a close Dec. 11 with Grant Jack capturing the $250,000 Springboard Mile, the richest 2-year-old stakes event of the meeting. The final night of racing this year also boosted the already positive seasonal attendance and pari-mutuel handle statistics.
This was the first Thoroughbred Season for Remington Park under first-year owners Global Gaming Solutions. Total wagering on Remington Park racing reached $54,179,243, up an astounding 48.3% compared to the 2009 season. The daily average was $808,645.
The massive jump in total Remington Park handle was a direct result of much higher interest from horseplayers receiving the export signal away from Oklahoma City. The export handle of $48,562,011 was up 53.9% from the 2009 season, an increase of $16,998,226.
The on-track handle for the season was up 15.7% with a total of $5,049,558 played on the live racing, an increase of $685,952 from last year. Attendance for the season reached 461,705, up 14.5% from year ago for an average of 6,891 per race date.
A major project to reinvent Remington Park throughout the year achieved one of its objectives of making the 2010 season a winner according to Remington Park president and general manager Scott Wells.
"The on-track increase is directly related to the millions of dollars worth of improvements Global Gaming has made throughout the course of the year at Remington Park.” Wells noted. “We've been able to completely change the appearance of the place and the effort is ongoing, continuing between this season and the next.
“As far as the increases in our export handle, we've been successful in marketing our signal to a much wider distribution network,” Wells continued. “Due to our competitive full fields, more and more serious horseplayers have realized the value we offer. That boosts the wagering pool size which, in turn attracts even larger pool size. I hated to see this season end because we were continually gaining momentum in the marketplace."
Remington Park expanded the maximum number of starters for a race to 14 for the first time this season. There were 6,481 overall starters through 639 races for an average field size of 10.1. In 2009, Remington Park contested 610 races with 5,796 starters for an average field size of 9.5 per race.
Additionally, Remington Park offered more racing for both horsemen and horseplayers, increasing the total number of races for the season by 29, up 4.8% compared to 2009.
Average daily purses of $215,582 were also up 7.4% compared to a year ago. The total purse money for the season reached $14,443,965, nearly a million more than in 2009.
The increased attendance on-track also provided increases for import simulcast handle during the season on live racing dates. A total of $5,054,844 was wagered on other racing on the dates Remington Park offered a live program. The total is a 4.8% increase over the similar statistic from the 2009 season.
Remington Park wagering at Off-Track Betting parlors located in Oklahoma City, Midwest City, Okla. and Lawton, Okla. was down 6% for the season at $567,674. Only four locations served as OTB partners for Remington Park this year, compared to six in 2009.
The 2010 and 2009 Remington Park Thoroughbred Seasons were identical in length at 67 dates.
Live racing returns to Remington Park on March 4, 2011 when the nation’s top American Quarter Horse season gets underway. Remington Park remains open daily until then for casino gaming and simulcast racing.
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.
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For More Information, Contact:
Dale Day
405-425-3215
Dale.day@remingtonpark.com
