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Calder Meet Results Down

MIAMI, Florida – (PRESS RELEASE) -- The 123-day Calder Meet ended on Saturday, Oct. 23, with its signature event, the Festival of the Sun, but the racetrack didn't miss a beat as the Tropical at Calder season started the next day, Sunday, Oct. 24. Overall, the Calder meet showed declines in attendance and wagering, but the Festival of the Sun and the Summit of Speed, Calder's popular day of sprint stakes in July, once again proved to be successful events.

In summary, the daily average on-track handle on the live product was $385,675, down 2.9 percent from last year. The daily average combined inter-track wagering ("ITW") and inter-state wagering ("ISW") was $2,631,775, down 11.3 percent, and the combined daily average handle was $3,017,450, down 10.3 percent from the 2003 meet. The daily average of total handle (all sources on all days) was $3,588,732, down 7.2 percent from 2003.

On-track attendance for the 123 live days totaled 544,745, for a daily average of 4,429, a 5.2-percent decline from last year's daily average. (Please refer to the comparison sheet for totals.)

Kenneth Dunn, Calder president, attributed the attendance and wagering declines primarily to the multiple hurricanes that stormed through Florida. "The hurricane season had Floridians on both coasts, from north to south, preparing for and reacting to several high-powered storms," said Dunn. "Because of Hurricane Frances, Calder was completely closed on Sept. 3, 4 and 5 and the days were not made up. And while Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne did not force Calder to close, they impacted our business by forcing residents of south Florida and throughout the state to deal with the storms and the resulting damage that many are still recuperating from."

Dunn cited the state's smoking ban and new casino competition as other factors affecting business levels.

Special event days offered during the Calder meet continued to attract above average crowds and higher wagering. The fifth annual Summit of Speed, held on July 10, handled $10,843,994, Calder's all-time total handle record. In a short time, the event has established itself as a showcase for the country's top sprinters with horses like Cajun Beat, Orientate, Shake You Down, and Crafty C.T. going on to win or show in the Breeders' Cup Sprint the past two years after running in the Summit. Horses competing in the 2004 Summit of Speed that are expected to run in today's $1 million Breeders' Cup Sprint at Lone Star Park include Bwana Charlie, Champali, Clockstopper, and My Cousin Matt.

The 13th annual Festival of the Sun hosted a crowd of 14,196 on Oct. 23 with total combined mutuel handle eclipsing $6.9 million. The $400,000 My Dear Girl Stakes was one of eight stakes races that day.

The 55-day Tropical meet began on October 24 and concludes on January 2, 2005.

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