(Retama Park release)
Retama Park reported mixed results with a 9% increase in average daily live attendance; a 15% drop in average daily live wagering, and a modest 4% decrease in average daily export wagering during the 32-day meet.
On-track wagering on Retama Park’s live product reflects a national trend for horse racing overall in North America. Retama’s export results were significantly better than most tracks nationally.
“Our attendance numbers for the live racing period were actually encouraging”, said Retama Park CEO Bryan Brown. “Our marketing efforts brought folks out to enjoy our entertainment product, especially our Fifty Cent Nights, but with a struggling economy and rising unemployment, our fan base had fewer dollars to spend,” said Brown.
Retama Park did make significant strides in expanding the track’s image on the national scene. Prominent Kentucky breeder and owner Ken Ramsey shipped in horses to take both of the tracks major races, the Skyy El Joven and the M2 Technology La Senorita, and used them as preps for the 2009 Breeders’ Cup, vaulting Retama Park into the national spotlight. Leading jockey Julien Leparoux rode for Ramsey at Retama Park, his first ever appearance, then went on to capture three Breeders’ Cup races and take the Bill Shoemaker Award as outstanding jockey of the two day Breeders’ Cup event.
Year 2009 2008 Change
Race Days 32 35
Average Daily:
Live Attendance 2,198 2,024 +9%
Live wagering 69,637 81,833 -15%
Export wagering 586,810 608,183 -4%