Keeneland closed its 2009 fall season on Saturday with an 8.7 percent increase in total wagering for the 17-day race meeting, held October 9-31.

 

Combined on-track and off-track wagering on Keeneland was $119,055,703, up 8.7 percent from $109,482,898 in 2008. Average daily total wagering was $7,003,277, also up 8.7 percent from $6,440,170 last fall.

 

Wagering was boosted by quality, competitive racing. Average daily purses of $608,891 attracted 9.96 starters per race. Keeneland’s signature FallStars opening weekend produced numerous entries in the upcoming Breeders’ Cup World Championships, notably Darley Alcibiades (G1) winner Negligee, Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) winner Court Vision, Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner Noble’s Promise, First Lady (G1) winner Diamondrella (GB), and Juddmonte Spinster (G1) winner Mushka.  

 

On-track wagering on live racing totaled $17,337,249, down 9.1 percent from $19,065,818 for the 2008 fall meeting. Average daily on-track wagering was $1,019,838 compared to last year’s $1,121,519.

 

Total on-track wagering, which includes live racing and imported simulcasting at Keeneland, was $20,799,568, a decrease of 17.5 percent from $25,223,597 in 2008. The later running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled for November 6-7 this year, contributed to the total on-track wagering decline at Keeneland. Last fall, Keeneland fans wagered more than $1.8 million on the simulcast of the Breeders’ Cup, which was held on closing Friday and Saturday of the fall race meeting.

 

Unseasonably cool, rainy weather throughout most of October impacted on-track attendance, which totaled 192,211, down 19.6 percent from last fall’s 239,117. Average daily attendance was 11,307 compared to 14,066 in 2008.  

 

“While the inclement weather adversely affected attendance, thanks to Polytrack, our racing remained at a consistently high level,” said Keeneland President and CEO Nick Nicholson. “Our ability to card full race fields every day during the meeting made Keeneland an attractive simulcast product, and contributed to increases in wagering.”

 

Ken McPeek outdistanced his peers to take his first Keeneland training title with 17 wins, including victories in the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1) with Noble’s Promise and JPMorgan Chase Jessamine with House of Grace. It was the most wins by a trainer during the fall since the 17 recorded by Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas in the fall of 1995.  Lukas, Keeneland’s all-time leading trainer, holds the fall season record of 22 wins, set in 1989.

 

Todd Pletcher finished second in the standings with six wins.

           

Jockey Robby Albarado earned his second consecutive fall meet riding title and fourth overall (joining spring 2002 and 2004) with 25 wins. Albarado won two stakes during the fall – the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) with Court Vision and Rood & Riddle Dowager with Black Mamba (NZ).

 

Julien Leparoux ranked second in the standings with 20 wins, while Kent Desormeaux was third with 16 wins.           

 

Ken and Sarah Ramsey accumulated five wins to capture their sixth leading owner title at Keeneland. The Ramseys have previously earned honors in the fall 2008, fall 2007 (tie), spring 2006, spring 2004 (tie) and fall 2002 (tie).

 

George Strawbridge Jr.’s Augustin Stable and Eugene Melnyk’s Melnyk Racing Stables Inc. tied for second with three wins each.