Betting Topples All-Time Marks

Playfair

All-time records for daily average parimutuel wagering fell by the wayside at Playfair Race Course this fall, when the Spokane track, for the first time in its 59-year history, offered satellite betting on every program.

Compared to 1994, wagering zoomed 51.5 percent to $465,677 per day for the season which ended on Monday, Nov. 27. The meet, which began on Sept. 6, attracted 132,468 fans who wagered $22,352,496. Attendance averaged 2,760 per day, a gain of 12 percent above 1994.

Horse owners earned $1,483,429, including fees and bonuses from stakes races, during the 48-day late-summer and fall meet that was Playfair’s shortest since a 50-day meet in 1970. Nevertheless, purses averaged $30,905 per day, and the average purse was $3,289.

Daily average attendance stands as the second best since 1988. The daily wagering figure swamped the record of $360,695 set by the banner 1993 meet, which included 42 non-satellite days. Compared to the 34-day satellite portion of the 1994 season, daily average wagering gained 2.6 percent. Attendance increased almost 1 percent.

Dates hearing

The Washington Horse Racing Commission meets Thursday in Lacey, Wash., with date applications from the state’s three racing associations expected to be the principal topic.

Chalk talk

Favorites were successful in 167 of the season’s 487 races for 34.3 percent, the eighth highest in track history, and third or better in 348 for 71.5 percent. The latter figure is among the three or four highest all-time.

Stat sheet

Washington-bred horses won 310 of the 451 local races for 68.7 percent… . Twentysix horses were claimed for a total of $81,900… . Gallant Best, a son of Best Turn standing in Oak Harbor, Wash., was the top stallion with 15 victories.

, DataTimes