LAUREL, MD. 01-05-13---The Maryland Jockey Club concluded its 2012 racing season earlier this week, posting average wagering figures which were 7.5% higher than 2011. The average daily handle went from $2.27 million to $2.44 million. The year featured 145 live racing dates and 206 simulcast days.

Live handle figures increased nearly 6% from $176,300 to $186,700, while the export numbers grew almost 17% from $1.7 million to $1.975 million per day.

“It is significant news that the live and export numbers increased from a year ago,” Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas said. “We finished strong at Pimlico in the spring and kept the momentum going during the Laurel Park fall meeting. I attribute the boost to increased purses, as we are running for $250,000 per day, which is up $90,000, improved field sizes and more aggressive marketing.”

FIELD SIZE COMPARISON

Total attendance was up at Pimlico Race Course as the Preakness day crowd improved from 107,398 to a record 121,309. Performances by Grammy Award winner Maroon 5 and Billboard Music Award winner Wiz Khalifa in the infield plus the early arrival of Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another into Baltimore 12 days before the middle jewel of racing’s Triple Crown contributed to make last year’s Preakness a must-see event.

Click here to view 2012 Handle information.

About Pimlico Race Course

Pimlico Race Course is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.