Handle increase at Hoosier

Hoosier Park concluded its 13th season of Standardbred racing Saturday, June 24. The meet offered 60 days of live racing, beginning April 1. Total wagering reached $57,431,099 for the 60-day meet compared to $52,853,306 during the 61-day meet in 2005. Given the differences in race dates year over year, daily averages for handle and attendance are used for comparison purposes.

Average daily handle for the Standardbred meet increased by 10.5 percent from 2005, as $957,185 was wagered nightly on Hoosier Park’s card around the country compared to an average of $866,448 in 2005. Average daily export handle increased by 12.3 percent to $872,665 in 2006 compared to $777,406 a year ago. Average daily on-track handle fell 6.8 percent as $37,971 was wagered nightly in 2006 compared to $40,723 in 2005. An additional $24,228 was wagered nightly on the Hoosier Park card at the track’s off-track betting locations around the state of Indiana (Indianapolis, Merrillville and Fort Wayne), a decrease of 1.3 percent from 2005.

Average daily import handle was $334,531, a decrease of 6.0 percent from the $355,766 wagered during the 2005 meet.

Average daily attendance at Hoosier Park was 822, which was 0.6 percent above last year’s average of 816. An average of 9.6 starters went to the gate in 2006, compared to an average of 9.5 starters in 2005.

Average daily purses fell 4.5 percent in 2006, as horsemen raced for an average of $113,590 in 2006 versus $118,994 in 2005. Total purses distributed in 2006 amounted to $6,815,380 a decrease of 6.1 percent from the 61-day meet in 2005. The decline in import simulcast handle contributed to the decline in purses.

“Our Standardbred racing program continues to grab customers’ attention in simulcasting venues around the country, thanks to our affiliation with the Churchill Downs Simulcast Network,” said Hoosier Park president and general manager Rick Moore. “Horseplayers have come to expect full fields from Hoosier Park, something we again offered this season.”

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