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Betting on steeplechasers soars at major flat tracks By Betsy Parker Times Newspapers Staff Writer A wildly successful summer meet at Virginia’s Colonial Downs included steeplechasing every Saturday, a popular addition to the 30-day, program. Numbers were up across the board at the New Kent County track, with substantial increases reported for overall handle, attendance and starters. The continuing jump racing program played no small role in the improvements: Racing manager John Mooney said that weekend crowds clearly appreciated the exciting, competitive, full fields in the Saturday steeplechases.
“They’ll bet on any good, well-filled race," Mooney said. “On the dirt, on the turf or over the jumps.” Five steeplechase races held at racetracks during the spring season resulted in significant handle numbers for the host racetracks, and reflected strong interest and healthy increases over 2001. Total wagering on five races at Keeneland,. Churchill Downs, Pimlico and Belmont was $2,842,953 — an average of more than $568,000 per race. Churchill led the way with a record handle of $910,000 on the May 2 Hard Scuffle Stakes. At Pimlico, a move from the Thursday of Preakness Week to Friday helped power betting figures to $510,000. The number nearly doubled the 2001 figure of $216,000. “It speaks well for the race, and goes to show you that if you put a competitive race out there, people will support it — no matter what kind of race it is,” echoed Pimlico chief operating officer Lou Raffetto. At Belmont, $637,000 was wagered on the June 6 Meadow Brook Stakes, an increase of $80,000 over the 2001 race. “Historically, jump races handle less than flat races, but hopefully we bring more to the table than wagering,” said NSA director of racing Bill Gallo. “We offer a unique opportunity for fans of flat racing to see the Thoroughbred horse do something different. We are always grateful to our racetrack hosts, and hope to see the handle numbers continue to rise.” 66
We offer a unique opportunity for fans ... to see the
Thoroughbred horse
do something different. Bill Gallo NSA director r
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