Lone Star Park concluded its 20th Spring Thoroughbred Racing Season, Sunday, July 17 with a 6 percent increase in off-track live wagering, raising the total amount wagered on the live racing product by 1.8 percent.
“We’re happy with the increase in live product wagering, especially the off-track numbers,” said President and General Manager, Scott Wells. “It shows that interest from national simulcast customers has increased in our live product offering.”
Attendance during the 2016 Spring Thoroughbred Season, which was conducted over 50 dates between April 7 and July 17, totaled 362,457, a slight decline of 1 percent compared to 366,720 during the 50-date 2015 season. Average daily attendance was 7,249 compared to 7,325 a year ago.
A total of 80,806 music fans attended the six concerts that made up the highly successful 2016 Lone Star Music Series, one less than the seven staged in 2015. Average per concert attendance was 13,468 vs. the per concert average of 13,392 in 2015.
Total on-track simulcast wagering was $25.7 million compared to the $26.7 million wagered in 2015 a decline of 3.9 percent.
On-track live wagering slipped 7.9 percent to $11.2 million compared to last year’s total of $12.1 million.
The total amount wagered on the live product, both on and off-track, rose 1.8 percent to $41.6 million versus $40.8 million last year. Daily averages were $832,433 compared to $817,320 one year ago.
Overall, there was a slight decline of just .4 percent in all-sources wagering. $67.3 million was wagered during the meet as opposed to $67.6 million wagered in 2015.
On the track, a total of 3,582 starters competed in 451 races. Average field size was 7.94 compared the 2015 National average (U.S. & Canada) of 7.82 according to the Jockey Club. Lone Star Park’s average daily purses were up 5.5 percent at $147,801 compared to $140,099 from last season.
“Once again we exceeded the national average in field size and we had the participation of some of the greatest owners, trainers and jockeys in North America,” said Wells.
Season Leaders
With 99 wins, 2015’s leading rider C. J. McMahon won his second consecutive riding title. Iram Vargas Diego finished second with 84 winners and top rider of 2014 David Cabrera finished third with 47 wins.
Trainer Karl Broberg captured his third consecutive Lone Star Park training title with 61 wins. All-time leader Steve Asmussen claimed the runner-up spot in the trainer standings with 51 wins, and two-time leading trainer Bret Calhoun (2010-11) finished third with 42 wins.
Lone Star Park’s all-time leading trainer, Steve Asmussen, captured his first ever owner title at the Grand Prairie track. Asmussen and End Zone Athletics were tied at 20 wins each as of Friday night. On Saturday Asmussen took home two wins to take the lead and held on to close out the meeting on top at 22 to 20.
Lone Star Park’s 26-day, 2016 Fall Meeting of Champions for American Quarter Horses will be held from September 16 to November 12 with live racing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 6:35 p.m. For more information on Lone Star Park visit LoneStarPark.com.