Total handle for the Kentucky Derby and the supporting 14-race card at Churchill Downs on Saturday "were both records," according to Matt Hegarty of the DAILY RACING FORM. Total handle on the Derby was $137.8M, which "bested the record set" in '15 of $136.5M. Total handle on the 14-race card was $207.5M, marking the "first time that handle on a single card" in North America broke the $200M mark. The 158,070 in attendance on Saturday was "well off the record set" in '15 of 170,513 (DRF.com, 5/6). BLOODHORSE's Gregory Hall noted Churchill Downs Inc. "expects to add" between $4-6M in "increased profitability" with the success of the Derby handle. All-sources handle for Derby Week "also set a record" of $284.1M. Attendance for the week of 349,455 was down 7% from a record in '16 -- "brought down by a 15.6% smaller crowd" for the Kentucky Oaks on Friday (BLOODHORSE.com, 5/6). In Louisville, Jason Frakes noted Saturday's crowd was still the "seventh-largest in Derby history," and those in it "endured rain early in the day but cheered loudly during a sun-drenched post parade and race." The Derby-winning horse, Always Dreaming, earned $1.64M for the victory and boosted his career bankroll to $2.28M (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 5/7).
PLAYING FAVORITES: In Baltimore, Childs Walker noted Always Dreaming was the "fifth consecutive favorite" to win the Derby. The horse is "owned by a group" that includes" NHL Panthers Owner Vinnie Viola and former NYRA Chair Anthony Bonomo (Baltimore SUN, 5/7). Viola said, "We represent everybody who went to the racetrack for the first time with their dads and were astonished by the brilliance of these equine athletes and never fell out of love with the sport" (USATODAY.com, 5/6). On Long Island, Ed McNamara noted Always Dreaming cost $350,000, which was "$100,000 above the limit" Bonomo set when he was searching for a horse. Bonomo's wife, MaryEllen, said, "I named him that because I'm always daydreaming about something" (NEWSDAY, 5/7).
