Export Handle
nearly flat, Live Handle declines due to cold, rainy start to season
NICHOLS, NY – A pair of world records were set and
nine track records were matched or broken, highlighting the recently concluded
live racing season at Tioga Downs.
All-sources handle on the track’s signature race days was
up, including the fourth-highest single day handle in the track’s eight-season
history set on Roll With Joe & Artiscape Day in June. Live handle was also
up nearly 10 percent on Cane Pace Day in September.
For the season, export handle, which includes wagers on
Tioga Downs races from off-track locations nationwide, was down 1 percent. Live
handle, which includes only wagers on Tioga Downs races made on-track, was down
12 percent thanks to an unusually cold and rainy early part of the season.
“Obviously we’re disappointed any time our handle is down,
but we’re a sport that’s played outdoors and unfortunately you can’t do
anything about Mother Nature,” said Jason Settlemoir, Vice President of Racing
and Simulcast. “However, I am very encouraged by our strong business on our
signature race days that we have worked very hard to promote to both our
on-track guests and also to the fans and bettors around North America.”
Among the highlights of the 61-day meet were record-setting
wins by a “who’s who” of the sport’s top horses. World champion Pet Rock
equaled the fastest time ever at Tioga Downs with his 1:48.1 win in June’s Roll
With Joe Open Pace while recent Little Brown Jug winner Vegas Vacation proved
his dominance in New York with a world-record setting 1:48.3 victory in
August’s Empire Breeders Classic.
For the second year in a row, Tioga Downs played host to the
Cane Pace, opening leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown. The sport’s biggest star,
Captaintreacherous, brought an enthusiastic Labor Day crowd to its feet by
narrowly holding off longshot Word Power. With a total purse of $360,211, the
Cane Pace was the richest single race ever conducted at Tioga Downs.
Jim Marohn, Jr. captured his second straight driving title
with 76 wins while also becoming the first locally based driver to win the
Tioga/Vernon All-Star Drivers Championship against the premier drivers in the
sport. Jamie Paquet became the first female to win the Tioga Downs training
title with 24 wins. On the equine side, Eastend Eddie and Aruba Vacation both
repeated as pacer and trotter of the year, respectively.
