Lone Star Ends Meet With Off-Track Handle Record

Lone Star Park concluded its 24th Thoroughbred racing season Aug. 12 with a record $2.1 million in average daily handle from off-track sources. The previous high mark was in 2002 when the average was just over $2 million per day. The meet saw a record increase of 131% in average daily all-source handle from 2019. The average daily handle was the highest since 2004, the year Lone Star Park hosted the Breeders' Cup World Championships and reported an average daily all-source handle of just over $2.2 million. "With the success of this season behind us, we are eager to keep the momentum going into next year and feel the future is bright for horse racing at Lone Star Park and in Texas," said Kent Slabotsky, the vice president of operations. Total purses paid increased by $95,000 per day or 34% from $166,000 to $261,000 per day. Higher purses led to an over 20% increase in field size at the Grand Prairie, Texas, track. During the meet, jockey Stewart Elliott captured his 5,000th career win, and Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen earned his 13th leading trainer title. Asmussen won 50 races worth $1,463,385 during the season. Jockey Ramon Vazquez, riding his first season at Lone Star Park, was the top jockey with 58 wins totaling $1,343,946 in purse money. Mike Sisk of M and M Racing was top owner with 29 wins worth $587,235 in earnings.