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Hoosier Park Concludes 2002 Thoroughbred Meet

The meet was highlighted by an increase in average daily interstate simulcast wagering, as $1,157,230 was wagered nightly on Hoosier Park's card around the country, an increase of 7.8 percent over the $1,073,573 wagered nightly during the 2001 meet. Average daily on-track wagering fell 1.0 percent as $93,003 was wagered nightly in 2002 compared to $93,916 in 2001. Total wagering for the meet was $86,761,283, as compared with $83,850,669 in 2001. Average daily attendance was 967, which was 1.3 percent above last year's figure of 954.

Average daily purses grew 5.5 percent in 2002, as horsemen raced for an average of $177,390 in 2002 versus $168,168 in 2001. Total purses distributed in 2002 amounted to $12,062,500, an increase of 2.5 percent from 2001. An average of 9.1 starters went to the gate in 2002, compared to 8.9 in 2001.

The 2002 meet featured a record number of racing programs that generated wagering in excess of one million dollars. In all, wagering was more than one million dollars on 55 occasions, topping last year's mark of 47 nights.

"The strength of our signal sale is another positive reflection on our affiliation with Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Churchill Downs Simulcast Network (CDSN)," said Hoosier Park President and General Manager Rick Moore. "Without that affiliation, it would be difficult for us to get the type of national exposure we enjoy."

Hoosier Park at Anderson offers Standardbred, Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing and wholecard simulcasting. Hoosier Park's 2003 Standardbred meet will be contested March 22-May 30. The 2003 Thoroughbred meet begins Aug. 29 and will conclude Dec. 4. Hoosier Park, a majority-owned property of Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN), also operates simulcast-wagering facilities in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Merrillville, Ind.

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