Double-digit increases, riding record highlight Turfway fall meet
Thoroughbred Times
Posted: 10/6/06

Turfway Park closed its 22-day fall meet on Thursday with double-digit increases in off-track and all-sources mutuel handle and a record-setting performance by jockey Julien Leparoux.

The Florence, Kentucky, track reported an all-sources mutuel handle of $58,560,856, a 23.6% increase compared to last year's fall meet, which was the first run over Polytrack. Off-track wagering on Turfway races increased 24.9% to $55,521,566.

On-track wagering on Turfway races increased 4.6% to $3,039,290.

"This is the third-consecutive meet that we have posted increases in on-track handle and double-digit increases in off-track and all-sources handle on our races," said Turfway President Robert Elliston. "So it seems any questions bettors have about Polytrack have been answered. We are offering our patrons good betting races with good-sized fields and competitive races—in short, a better product—and that stems directly from horsemen's acceptance of the surface."

The average number of starters per race was 8.9 compared to 8.7 in 2005.

Total available purse money for the meet declined 8.7% to $3,577,420. The decrease resulted from efforts to pay off Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Funds accumulated during cancellations in the 2005 winter/spring meet.

The track's contribution to purses decreased 2.6%.

Leparoux set his second Turfway track record by finishing with 38 wins. Glen Brogan set the previous fall meet record with 37 wins in 1968.

"I know the record was from a long time ago," Leparoux said. "I try to win every time. I don't know the records. Races are won one-on-one."

Leparoux previously broke the track record for wins in a winter/spring meet with 167.

Anthony Reinstedler was the leading trainer with five wins. Reinstedler saddled Gouldings Green to victory in the Turfway Park Fall Championship Stakes (G3) and also won the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes (G3) with U D Ghetto, a possible starter in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on November 4 at Churchill Downs. 

Overbrook Farm, Robert Mondun, Lucky Seven Stable, and Melnyk Racing Stables Inc. tied for leading owner with three wins apiece.

Live racing returns to Turfway on November 26.