Wagering on the event broke records for the second year in a row despite the rainiest Derby day on recordGETTY IMAGES
The 144th Kentucky Derby drew what "appeared to be a relatively sparse crowd in the infield," but Churchill Downs reported Saturday's attendance of 157,813 as the "eighth-largest crowd in the history of the race," according to Matt Hegarty of the DAILY RACING FORM. Wagering on the event "broke records for the second year in a row" despite the "rainiest Derby day on record." Handle on the Derby itself yesterday was $148M, up 7.5% over last year. For the entire 14-race card, total handle was $223.7M, a 7.8% increase over Derby day wagering last year, which was the "first time that any North American race card had broken" the $200M mark (DRF.com, 5/5). BLOODHORSE's Gregory Hall noted Churchill Downs Inc.'s TwinSpires.com wagering service "posted gains over last year despite being unable to accept bets for about 20 minutes before the Derby." The $39.2M bet through TwinSpires.com on Churchill races was up 15% from last year, and the $24.6M bet on the Derby itself was up 18%. The $311.2M all-sources handle for the six-day Derby Week was up 9% from the prior top mark of $285.1M last year. Attendance for the week (375,346) was up 7%. The April 28 opening-night crowd of 22,023 "increased 5.1% from last year's 20,949." On Thursday, Churchill "saw a record crowd of 48,134 for its 'Thurby' card." Finally, the 271,323 people who attended for Oaks and Derby on Friday and Saturday, respectively, "represented the seventh-highest combined total in history and up from the 263,170 last year" (BLOODHORSE.com, 5/6).
FAVORITE SON: DAILY RACING FORM's Jay Privman noted Derby-winning horse Justify became the "sixth straight favorite" to win the Derby and gave trainer Bob Baffert his fifth win, "second best all-time" (DRF.com, 5/5). USA TODAY's Dan Wolken noted three-year-old Justify became the "first horse since Apollo in 1882 to win the Kentucky Derby without running as a 2-year-old" (USATODAY.com, 5/5). In N.Y., Melissa Hoppert noted Justify is co-owned by WinStar Farm, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing and the China Horse Club (CHC). Justify earned a $1.432M paycheck for his jockey, trainer and owners (N.Y. TIMES, 5/6).
FINE CHINA: In Louisville, Jake Lourim noted CHC's status in horse racing is "still fledgling, but the prospects of where it could go seem extensive." Teo Ah Khing said that he "founded the organization 'to be Asia’s premier lifestyle, business and thoroughbred racing club.'" Since the company started entering races in '13 and joined U.S. racing in '16, the results "have been promising." CHC also co-owned Abel Tasman, last year's Kentucky Oaks winner (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 5/6). In N.Y., Hoppert & Stevenson noted in just five years, the exclusive and "secretive" CHC has "become a major global player." The club "co-owns 10 prominent horses" that raced Friday and Saturday. The emergence of CHC "reflects the rise of partnerships across the industry to reduce risk by pooling capital and buying into proven horses." Nine of the 20 Derby horses were "owned by partnerships." CHC has "about 200 members" and a minimum membership cost of $1M (N.Y. TIMES, 5/5). In Lexington, Jared Peck noted another partner, Sol Kumin of Head of Plains Partners, "became the first owner to win the Kentucky Oaks and the Derby in the same weekend since Calumet Farm" in '52 (LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER, 5/6). In Boston, Joe Sullivan noted despite Justify having a "complicated partnership" among its owners, the horse "wore the silks of WinStar Farms" on Saturday (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/6).
EVERYONE'S A WINNER: In DC, Jacob Bogage noted for the Derby, Amazon's audio book distributor Audible "threw its lot behind Audible, the 3-year-old colt." The horse "walked around in an ebook-themed blanket." If he had won, Audible would have given away "free audio versions of 'American Pharoah,' by Joe Drape." With Audible's third place finish, the company will still give away a "free audio book" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/6).
THERE TO BE SEEN: A number of sports celebrities attended the Derby, including Broncos LB Von Miller, ESPN's Jason Witten, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, former NFLer Eric Wood, NBC Olympic analyst Bode Miller and actor Johnny Knoxville. NHL Panthers Owner Vinnie Viola, a co-owner of Derby horse Vino Rosso, was in attendance with NHLers Jamie McGinn, Mark Pysyk and Jonathan Huberdeau, among others (Mult.).
