Kentucky Derby Betting Falls

5 May 2008

Churchill Downs Inc reports a 3.2 percent drop in Kentucky Derby wagering to $114.6 million compared to 2007's $118.3 million.

For the main race, trackside wagering was comparable to last year at $12.1 million while off-track betting fell 3.6 percent to $102.4 million.

Total wagering on the entire 12-race Kentucky Derby Day card fell 2 percent to $164.7 million.

At the Churchill Downs track, total betting was flat with a year earlier at $12.1 million. Off-track wagering fell 3.6% to $102.4 million.

Churchill Downs returned $134.4 million, or 82 percent of total wagers, to bettors, the same percentage as last year.

President Steve Sexton wagering was hurt because "Kentucky horsemen would not permit [advance-deposit] wagering" via certain Websites on the full Kentucky Derby Day."

Saturday's event attracted the largest Kentucky Derby crowd in history, with 157,770 in attendance.