Total Handle up 20 Percent at Laurel Park’s Summer Meet
Total Handle up 20 Percent at Laurel Park’s Summer Meet
Increases in Average and In-State Handle
LAUREL, MD – The Maryland Jockey Club announced today that total handle on Laurel Park’s summer meet was up 20.2 percent over the previous year while average and in-state handle also increased.
Total handle on Laurel’s 24-day summer meet – the same number of days as last year – was $63.2 million compared to $52.6 million in 2015. Average handle increased 12.4 percent from $1.7 million to $2.1 million while in-state handle increased by 14.2 percent from $18.1 million to $20.7 million.
“We continue to buck industry trends and see increases in our product,” said Maryland Jockey Club President and General Manager Sal Sinatra. “Horsemen continue to support our growing program with great racing and large fields. Fans are also taking note of our great racing and world-class turf course. We continue to make fan-friendly improvements to our facility while engaging bettors. We will soon begin a Sunday championship challenge handicapping contest, double reward point contests on Sunday football, and our new sports bar will soon be completed.
“We’re looking forward to our fall and winter meet which will feature a $4 million stakes schedule, Super Saturdays, the Commonwealth Derby (G2), Turf Cup (G2), and Oaks (G3), and the 31st Jim McKay Maryland Million. We believe our field size and the turf racing across our world-class course will be outstanding. We can’t wait to reopen Friday, Sept. 9 for what we believe will be an incredible fall and winter at Laurel Park.”
