Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma reported that both on-track attendance and handle improved during the 65-day meet that ended Dec. 5.
On-track attendance totaled 103,272 for a daily average of 1,589, an increase of 2.7% when compared to the daily average of the 57-day meeting in 2003. The increase is the first in daily average attendance for Remington Park's Thoroughbred meet since 2001.
Pari-mutuel handle was also up on-track as fans wagered a total of $5,061,888. The daily average handle of $77,875 was 3.4% higher than the average for the 2003 Thoroughbred meet and represents the first increase in daily average on track handle since 1996.
"We are extremely pleased and encouraged with the positive trends of this season and are hopeful they continue," said Remington Park general manager R.D. Logan. Remington Park's 2004 Thoroughbred meet had an average field size of 9.4, up from 9.0 in 2003 as a total of 589 Thoroughbred races were contested this year, with average daily purse distribution of $83,000, up by 9.9% over 2003.
Logan said the positive on-track business is a positive indicator for Remington Park combined with the recent passage of Oklahoma State Question 712. The measure will allow for electronic gaming at the track in the near future, subject to licensing and certain other conditions.
"There was a renewed interest in Remington Park with the referendum and passage of 712," Logan said. "We're looking forward to a new entertainment experience of great racing coupled with electronic gaming."
Remington Park's off-track betting network was also up in handle on the live racing product, with daily average handle of $9,400, 2.1% higher than the daily average in 2003. The off-track network consisted of four locations for the 2004 season, compared with six last year.
Total export simulcast handle on Remington Park's Thoroughbred races in 2004 was $17,989,079 resulting in a daily average of $276,755, down 0.4% compared to the 2003 Thoroughbred season which was eight days shorter.
The total handle in 2004 on Remington Park Thoroughbred races was $23,661,949 for a daily average $364,030, representing an increase of 0.4% over last year.