The 145th Running of the Longines Kentucky Oaks Sets All-time Wagering Record as Serengeti Empress Claims the Lillies
May 03 2019 - 9:45PM
Wagering on Friday’s 145th running of the $1.25 million
Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) reached record levels at Churchill
Downs Racetrack as Serengeti Empress captured the race before a
crowd of 105,719 that braved early morning rain. Attendance
decreased 7% compared to last year which had more favorable weather
conditions. This follows a record-breaking Thursday (“Thurby”)
crowd of 48,212.
Wagering from all-sources was the highest all-time
on both the Kentucky Oaks program and on the Kentucky Oaks
race.
Wagering from all-sources on the full Kentucky Oaks
Day race card totaled $60.2 million, an 8% increase over the
previous wagering record total of $55.8 million in 2018.
All-sources wagering on the Kentucky Oaks race rose 10% to $19.4
million from the previous Oaks race record total of $17.5 million
in 2018.
TRACK PRESIDENT COMMENTARY
“Congratulations to the connections of Serengeti Empress and
special thanks to all of the horse owners, trainers and jockeys who
participated in today’s races,” said Kevin Flanery, President of
Churchill Downs Racetrack. “Today’s record handle shows that the
Kentucky Oaks has established itself as one of the world’s most
popular events.”
“Our guests were able to benefit from the most
recent improvements to the facility including the new Starting Gate
Suites Rooftop Lounge that added approximately 500 new seats. We
also made several improvements to dining areas inside the facility
and replaced nearly 25,000 seats in our outdoor grandstand and
clubhouse sections that enhanced the guest experience. We look
forward to tomorrow for what we know will be a memorable
145th running of the Kentucky Derby,” Flanery said.
CHARITABLE Churchill Downs held
its 11th annual “Pink Out” in partnership with Derby Divas and
in support of Norton Cancer Institute - during the celebration of
the Longines Kentucky Oaks.
The Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation donated
$50,000 and helped raise an additional $23,877 through on-line
donations to benefit the Breast Health Program at Norton Cancer
Institute, a local non-profit, focused on the prevention and early
detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women.
Churchill Downs also donated $1 from each Friday
sale of the Finlandia Oaks Lily®, the official drink of the
Kentucky Oaks, to Derby Divas, a group of dedicated volunteers who
have partnered with Norton Healthcare to raise funds to make sure
underserved women have access to mammograms and other key services
to help prevent, detect and treat breast cancer.
The Kentucky Oaks Survivors Parade presented by
Kroger celebrated 145 cancer survivors who marched down Churchill
Downs’ historic homestretch prior to the running of the Longines
Kentucky Oaks to help raise national awareness of breast and
ovarian health and honor survivors.
OAKS WINNER Serengeti Empress,
owned by Joel Politi and bred in Kentucky by Tri Eques Bloodstock,
LLC, led from gate to wire and held off Coffeepot Stables’ Liora to
win the Longines Kentucky Oaks by 1 3/4 lengths at odds of 13-1 in
a final time of 1:50.17. Both jockey Jose Ortiz and trainer Tom
Amoss, won the race for the first time. The daughter of Alternation
out of the Bernardini mare Havisham was also the first Longines
Kentucky Oaks winner owned by Politi. She now has a lifetime record
of five wins in eight starts and increased her lifetime earnings to
$1,044,870 and returned $28 for a $2 win wager.
About Churchill Downs
Racetrack
Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary
racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented
America’s greatest race, The Kentucky Derby, continuously since
1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill
Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN) offers year-round simulcast
wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the
145th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford
Reserve on May 4, 2019. The track’s 2019 Spring Meet is scheduled
for April 27 – June 29. Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders’
Cup World Championships nine times. Information about Churchill
Downs can be found online at www.churchilldowns.com.
About Churchill Downs
Incorporated
Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI") (Nasdaq:
CHDN), headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is an industry-leading
racing, gaming and online entertainment company anchored by our
iconic flagship event – The Kentucky Derby. We own and
operate the largest legal online horseracing wagering platform in
the U.S., through our TwinSpires business. We are also a leader in
brick-and-mortar casino gaming with approximately 11,000 slot
machines and VLTs and approximately 200 table games in eight
states. In August 2018, we launched our BetAmerica Sportsbook at
our two Mississippi casino properties and have announced plans to
enter additional U.S. sports betting and iGaming markets. Derby
City Gaming, the first historical racing machine ("HRM") facility
in Louisville, Kentucky, was opened in September 2018 with 900 HRM
machines. Additional information about CDI can be found online at
www.churchilldownsincorporated.com.
Contact: Nick Zangari(502)
394-1157Nick.Zangari@kyderby.com
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