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    The 150th spring race at Churchill Downs
The 150th spring race at Churchill Downs
Tyler Gaffalione and José Ortiz. Source: horseracingnation.com

The 150th spring race at Churchill Downs

Tyler Gaffalione and José Ortiz were both crowned co-leading riders during the 150th spring meet at Churchill Downs, each securing 45 wins. This was Gaffalione's 12th time as the leading jockey at Churchill Downs, while it marked Ortiz's first championship since starting to ride in Kentucky this spring. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen claimed his 28th training title at Churchill Downs with 33 wins, and Juddmonte emerged as the leading owner with 10 victories.

The spring meet saw a record-breaking amount of wagers, totalling $708.3 million fuelled by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund and historical horse racing. This surpassed the previous record set during the 2022 spring meet. The handle during the Kentucky Derby week also saw an increase, reaching $446.6 million, with a staggering $320.5 million wagered on Kentucky Derby day alone.

Throughout the 37 days following Derby week, the total handle reached $261.7 million, marking a significant increase from the previous post-Derby mark. The Stephen Foster (G1) day card on Saturday attracted the highest amount of wagers in its 43-year history, totalling $18.8 million, a 35 percent increase from the previous year. Churchill Downs President Mike Anderson attributed the success of the spring meet to the record prize money, competitive fields, and exceptional guest experience provided by the team and partners.

A record $58.0 million in purses was paid out during the nine-week spring meet, averaging $1.4 million daily. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Churchill Downs managed to attract 3,432 starters for 418 races, averaging 8.2 horses per race.

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