136th Kentucky Derby and Oaks figures show increase

By: SPORTS NETWORK

 

Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - The numbers are in, and they show that attendance and betting figures for this year's Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks were up significantly from 2009.

Despite heavy rain and torando warnings Saturday, 155,804 came to see Super Saver and jockey Calvin Borel win the $2 million Run for the Roses. This figure is an increase from last year when 153,563 came to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.

On Kentucky Oaks Friday, a record crowd of 116,046 came to watch Blind Luck edge Evening Jewel in the 1 1/8-mile race for three-year-old fillies. This was an increase of 11 percent over 2009.

"The Churchill Downs team congratulates all those involved with Super Saver on his historic victory in this year's 136th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands," said Churchill Downs Racetrack President Kevin Flanery. "After setting attendance and wagering records on Oaks Day, we can't say enough about Kentucky Derby fans who didn't let the rain dampen their enthusiasm."

The total two-day attendance of 258,430 is an increase of more than 13,000 from 2009. Kentucky Derby Day attendance has now exceeded 150,000 a total of 10 times.

Wagering on the Kentucky Derby alone totaled $112.7 million, a 7.8 percent increase from the $104.6 million in 2009. Saturday's 13-race card at Churchill Downs was $162.7 million, an increase of 4.3 percent from the $156 million last year.

There was a sizeable increase in wagering on the Kentucky Oaks. Friday's race had $10.6 million pass through the windows, a 55 percent increase over the 2009 total. Wagering on the 12-race Kentucky Oaks Day card was an all-time record $36 million, a 20 percent increase over 2009.