This year's Kentucky Derby saw record handle of $273
This year's Kentucky Derby saw enter handle of $273.8m, an growth of 17% from lastly year.
Handle this twelvemonth was also upward 9% on the previous record circle in 2019, highlighting the scurf of pent-up exact for the US’ staple fiber horseracing case post-pandemic.
Attendance at this year’s event was 147,294, upwardly from 51,838 last-place year. Last year’s attendance, however, was heavily impacted by Covid-19 restrictions.
The week preceding the Kentucky Derby, known as Derby week, also saw put down hold of $391.8m, upwards 25% from cobbler's last yr and upward 14% on the previous record-holding Derby week inwards 2019.
This year’s Bluegrass State Derby saw 80/1 outsider Rich Strike – ridden past Sonny Leon – clout cancelled a shock discomfit in its lodge to victory, despite having the lowest odds among all 20 horses (it was regular 99/1 at single stage).
What’s more, Rich Strike was only if brought into the rush on Friday, after another horse was forced to free fall out.
Rich Strike’s victory is the second-longest slam to win the Run for the Roses after 1913’s case was won by Donerail, at betting odds of 91/1.
Punters championship Rich Strike would’ve seen remunerative returns, although bookmakers would not experience been as strong hit as the favourites did not come through.
The Kentucky Derby is the foremost of a Triple Crown series; Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race Course inward Baltimore (21 May) and Belmont Stakes at Elmont’s Belmont Part (11 June), are the 2d and 3rd races inwards the US’ flagship horseracing series.