Business Spikes at Arlington Park for Opening Weekend

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Attendance, wagering, and field size all increased dramatically during Arlington Park's opening weekend compared with numbers from 2006.

Arlington reported total handle improved by more than 25% May 4-6, from $10,331,614 during last year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) weekend to $13,150,072 this year. On-track handle, fueled in part by an increase from 27 races last year to 32 this year, increased from $1,488,378 to $2,361,210.

Arlington reported three-day attendance of 41,005, up from 31,114 a year ago, and an increase in average field size from 7.11 horses per race to 8.84. The three-day opening weekend was blessed with generally good weather and a substantial boost in publicity resulting from the installation of Polytrack, the artificial racing surface.

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