Woodbine announced that betting on Woodbine's 2009 live Thoroughbred meet, which concluded Dec. 6, was up 7% over last year.
The all-sources total of $361,435,208 was wagered during the 167-day meet, which began April 4, compared to the $337,660,570 recorded from the 167 dates offered in 2008.
“We are especially proud of the healthy wagering increase on our 2009 Thoroughbred meet, as the industry is seeing a drop in betting overall,” said Sean Pinsonneault, Woodbine Entertainment's vice-president of wagering services. “Our fundamentals are strong. We have an excellent purse structure, big field size, attractive betting offerings and quality horses and horse people recognized throughout the world.”
“Most of the $23 million-plus increase in betting came from U.S. sources. The Woodbine signal was prominent in the U.S. in 2009 as TVG, the national racing channel, offered Woodbine racing for the first time.
“We wanted to raise our profile in the United States through various strategies and it paid off for us with significant increased betting on our product,” Pinsonneault said. “Fans, on both sides of the border, respect the high quality racing we offer.”
Average field size at Woodbine was 9.1 horses per race this year, an increase over the 9.0 figure recorded in 2008. The 2009 total includes a field size of 10 horses per race over the final five weeks of the meet.
Overnight and stakes purses, including supplements and nominations fees, paid out in 2009 totaled $90.1 million, delivering an impressive $539,634 per card.
The 2010 Woodbine Thoroughbred season is scheduled for 167 dates, beginning April 2.