The 2017 Remington Park Thoroughbred Season experienced increased handle, average field size and total purses compared to the previous year. The final program on Dec. 17, Springboard Mile Day, was the second-largest betting day on Remington Park racing in the track’s history.
The all-sources pari-mutuel handle on Remington Park racing during Springboard Mile Day was $2,775,655, becoming the second-highest program for handle on Remington Park in the history of the track. The record was set on Feb. 24, 1990 when $2,808,243 was played on the Remington Park races.
Greyvitos won the 2017 edition of the $400,000 Springboard Mile, picking up 10 valuable points for 2018 Kentucky Derby eligibility in the process. This was the first year for the Springboard Mile as a Kentucky Derby points-race.
The big final day of the season capped the 67-dates with total handle on Remington Park racing of $66,844,252, up 16.6% over the 2016 total of $57,332,509. The increase was boosted by export handle on Remington Park of $63,188,252, up 18.2 % from last year when the export betting was $53,466,844.
“Remington Park enjoyed a successful Thoroughbred season thanks to our fans, horsemen and business partners, helping drive our pari-mutuel handle,” said Matt Vance, Remington Park vice president of operations. “We had an increase in field size this season, and our stakes program was well supported both locally and from connections shipping horses from across the United States to compete in Oklahoma City.”
The Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby was won this year by Untrapped, the first derby win here by National Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen who wrapped up his record 13th leading trainer title at Remington Park. The Oklahoma Derby had three competitors who raced in the Kentucky Derby earlier in the year. Battle Of Midway, Girvin and Untrapped represented the first time a trio of runners that raced in the Kentucky Derby competed in the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park that fall.
Eclipse Award winner Champagne Room won the Remington Park Oaks, on the Oklahoma Derby undercard. Her resume and success in the race helped bring it graded status for the first time in its history. The 2018 Remington Park Oaks will now carry a Grade 3 title, joining the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby as Remington Park’s graded Thoroughbred events.
Remington Park purses grew in 2017 to $16,144,945 for an average of $240,969 per day. The total is up 1.8% over the $15,855,080 distributed a year ago.
A total of 5,410 horses took part in the 604 races at Remington Park this season, for an average field size of 8.96, up from the average of 8.4 in 2016.
Remington Park’s on-track handle of $3,454,413 slid 4.4% from a year ago when it was $3,613,712. Thunder Roadhouse in north Oklahoma City had handle on Remington Park of $201,587 as the track’s lone off-track location. There were three off-track sites in 2016, playing a total of $251,953 on Remington Park racing.
Remington Park conducted one less race in 2017, running 604 events, compared to 605 in 2016. Both seasons had 67 race dates.
(from Remington Park news release)