Officials at Louisville-based Churchill Downs Inc. released financial results following the 143rd Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) on May 6, won by Always Dreaming. Wagering topped 0 million for the first time and other records were set for all-sources handle for Derby Day card, the Derby and Derby Week.
For the 14-race Derby Day card, wagering from sources all hit $209.2 million, a 9 percent increase over $192.6 million in 2016 and 8 percent higher than the previous record of $194.3 million in 2015.
For the Derby race, wagering from all sources rose 12 percent to $139.2 million compared to $124.7 million in 2016 and increased 1 percent from the previous record of $137.9 million in 2015.
All-sources handle for Derby Week also set a record of $284.1 million, up 7 percent from the previous record last year.
The crowd of 158, 070 at Churchill Downs on May 6 was the seventh largest in the race’s history, although it rained most of the day. Attendance for the week of 349,455 was down 7 percent from the record set in 2016. Officials cited a15.6percent smaller crowd for the Longines Kentucky Oaks card May 5, due to rain and the coldest weather since 1940.
Track President Kevin Flanery said, “We were excited to introduce our latest round of renovations and our investments in the facility continue to pay off, as we strive to improve the guest experience every year.” Churchill Downs has $125 million on renovations since 2005.
Over the past eight years, increases in profitability have totaled at least $45 million at Churchill Downs due to the Derby-related activities. Churchill expects to release a final total this summer along with second-quarter financials.
As for TV coverage, NBC’s telecast of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) earned a 10.5 rating and a 23 share–the second-best Derby overnight numbers in the past 25 years. That’s up 12 percent over 2016′ broadcast which earned a 9.4 rating and a 21 share.
Far from Louisville, at Beer Park overlooking the Strip at Paris Las Vegas, guests at the second annual Kentucky Derby enjoyed mint juleps and Kentucky Hot Browns. General Manager Jason Ellefson said, “I feel like a lot of people on the Strip don’t take advantage of realizing really how large the Kentucky Derby is.”
