HOT SPRINGS — Oaklawn Park has lost so many live racing dates this season that it is difficult to interpret business numbers.
“I’ve been asking myself that question all week,” Oaklawn General Manager Eric Jackson said late Monday morning.
But based on Jackson’s math, Oaklawn is still standing, despite losing a season record eight live racing days to severe winter weather.
Jackson said of 11 racing dates that correspond to last year’s meeting, on-track business is up 7 percent.
“That’s really, in my view, apples to apples,” Jackson said. “Obviously, when you compare all end to all end, we don’t stack up so good because we’ve lost eight days.
“But when we have been able to race, on whole, it’s been pretty nice.”
Monday marked the 17th day of what was supposed to be a 56-day meeting.
To help soften the economic blow horsemen suffered when the track was closed, Oaklawn has added one race per card, increased purses approximately $10,000 daily and will add another day of racing on April 13, previously a dark day.
Oaklawn recorded its strongest business week of the season, with total attendance of 68,010 for the five days (Thursday-Monday) of racing.
On-track mutuel handle was $4.7 million.
Monday’s 10-race holiday card, which featured Oaklawn’s annual $55,000 progressive cash giveaway promotion, drew a season-high 25,237.
Total on-track mutuel handle of $1,499,220 was also the best of the meeting.
Jackson said Oaklawn officials are so encouraged by recent business trends that they are going to meet this week to discuss another purse increase.
The inordinate amount of lost days of racing and training hasn’t had a major impact at the entry box.
Oaklawn was averaging a robust 9.83 starters per race through Sunday.
Sports, Pages 20 on 02/22/2011