Gaffalione, Ortiz share riding title at record Churchill meet

Tyler Gaffalione and José Ortiz shared leading-rider honors
with 45 wins apiece during the 150th spring meet that ended Sunday at Churchill
Downs.

For Gaffalione, it was his 12th Churchill Downs title as
leading jockey. It was the first such championship for Ortiz, who began riding
in Kentucky this spring.

Click here for Churchill Downs entries and results.

With 33 wins, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen collected
his record-extending 28th Churchill Downs training title. Juddmonte was the
leading owner for a third time with 10 trips to the winner’s circle.

More dollars were wagered than ever during this year’s spring
meet. Fueled by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund through historical
horse racing, Churchill Downs attracted $708.3 million of wagers during the
43-day stand. That broke the record of $614.8 million set during the 2022 spring
meet.

For some perspective, spring-meet betting totaled $368.8
million in 2014.

All sources handle during the six-day Kentucky Derby week April
27-May 4 rose to $446.6 million, including an unprecedented $320.5 million on
Kentucky Derby day, to eclipse last year’s Derby-week record of $412.0 million.

The wagering increases continued throughout the final 37
days of the spring meet May 9-June 30 as handle totaled $261.7 million, which
was a $38.7 million increase, or 17.4 percent, from the previous post-Derby
mark of $223.0 million during the 2022 spring meet.

Saturday’s 12-race Stephen Foster (G1) day card attracted
the most wagers in the 43-year history of the event. Betting totaled $18.8
million, a $4.9 million or 35 percent increase from the last time it was held
at Churchill Downs in 2022. The $18.8 million milestone also was the
second-largest wagering day at the track outside Derby week and the Breeders’
Cup. It was behind only the $19.3 million bet on Stephen Foster preview day May
23, 2020, during the COVID pandemic.

“From record prize money to large fields, high-quality
participants, robust wagering and large payouts, this year’s record-breaking spring
meet delivered all-around positive results,” said Mike Anderson, president of
Churchill Downs racetrack. “The horse owners, jockeys and trainers provided
exceptional competition on the racetrack, and our team and partners delivered
an outstanding guest experience. We extend our sincerest appreciation to the
horseplayers and the greater Louisville community who made this year’s spring meet
so special and enjoyable.”

A record $58.0 million was paid in purses during the
nine-week spring meet, which averaged $1.4 million daily. The average purse per
race was $139,000. Churchill Downs lured 3,432 starters for its 418 races for an
average of 8.2 horses per race.