Breeders’ Cup Releases Handle, Attendance Figures

With all eyes on Keeneland as the World Championships were held there for the first time this weekend, the event was received well by fans both on and off-site, the Breeders’ Cup announced Saturday evening.

Total two-day common-pool handle for the Friday and Saturday race cards of the 32nd Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland was $150,574,656, representing a half-percent decrease over 2014 common-pool total of $151,794,174. Common-pool wagering on Saturday’s 12-race Breeders’ Cup card was $105,625,491 a slight decrease over the 2014 handle of $105,979,062. The on-track handle for the two days at Keeneland was $20,611,114, up slightly over the $20,117,488 2014 on-track handle at Santa Anita.

“This was a day that people will look back on and tell people they were here, and it’s exactly why the Breeders’ Cup was created–to showcase the very best of our sport,” said Breeders’ Cup President and CEO Craig Fravel. “We’re thrilled with the crowd over both days, the strong business levels and our gracious hosts here at Keeneland and the greater Lexington area.”

The two-day total attendance of 95,102 was a slight decrease over the prior year. Breeders’ Cup officials said that ticket revenue for the event more than doubled over 2014 due primarily to the demand for high-end hospitality areas at Keeneland created specifically for the Breeders’ Cup.

“The Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland has been a tremendous success in every way,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “From the brilliant performances of the Breeders’ Cup champions, both equine and human, to the huge crowds on track and the unprecedented way in which the Central Kentucky community embraced this great event. I couldn’t be prouder of the Keeneland team who executed operations at the highest levels to provide guests with an incredibly memorable two days of racing.”

While complete Breeders’ Cup handle figures will be released early next week, it was announced Saturday evening that Ryan Moore won the 13th Bill Shoemaker Award given to the most outstanding jockey of the event. The Shoemaker Award is based on a 10-5-3-1 scoring system on first through fourth-place finishes in each of the 13 Breeders’ Cup World Championship races.