The handle figures for the 2017 season of live Standardbred racing at Hollywood Dayton Raceway are in, and the increases are substantial over the track’s 2016 numbers.
Hollywood Dayton Raceway is pleased to report a whopping 52 per cent increase in total all-source wagering on its recently-concluded 2017 live meet. There were 76 days in the track's fourth annual meet – six more than in 2016 – and thus the average daily increase was 42 per cent in a year-over-year comparison.
The numbers are particularly impressive in light of the recent industry report that total wagering on United States harness racing fell by 4.4 per cent in 2017. That same report indicated that total purses across the country were up 2.35 per cent last year.
Total purses at Hollywood Dayton's 2017 meet exceeded $8.5 million, for an average of $112,000 per program, an 18 per cent increase over 2016.
Heading to the gate at Hollywood Dayton Raceway
The highlights of the meet were the Grand Circuit races in September, the $167,000 Dayton Trotting Derby and the $140,000 Dayton Pacing Derby. Pasithea Face S (driven by Tim Tetrick) set a new 1:53 track record for trotting mares when she bested males Crazy Wow and JL Cruze in the feature trot. Rockin Ron (Matt Kakaley) bested Dealt A Winner and Missile J to cop the pace in 1:50.2.
Hollywood Dayton looks forward to its 2018 meet, which will open on September 10. Both the Dayton Trotting and Pacing Derbies will be featured during the track’s Friday, September 28 program.
(With files from Hollywood Dayton Raceway)