Wagering on Pimlico Race Course races fell 16.5 percent this spring from last year, a steep drop that one racing official called "unique."
"A decline of this size is unique compared to other regions and points to the competitive influences playing out in the Mid-Atlantic," Keith Chamblin, National Thoroughbred Racing Association vice president, said from his New York office. "About one-third of Pimlico's wagering decline was directly attributable to business declines on Preakness Day. The remaining decline is likely due to a combination of factors."
The Maryland Jockey Club concluded its spring meet Sunday at Pimlico. The all-sources handle for the 31-day meet was $190.9 million, down from $228.7 million for the same eight-week period in 2007.
The Preakness, which produces the Maryland Jockey Club's biggest revenue, drew its eighth straight six-figure crowd, but with Big Brown the prohibitive favorite to win the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, betting numbers were off.
With one horse dominating the field, bettors wagered about $73.5 million. A year ago, with Street Sense, Curlin and Hard Spun making the result anyone's guess, the handle was a near-record $87.2 million.
At his Laurel Park office, Tom Chuckas, the new president and chief operating officer of the Maryland Jockey Club, said the economy and weather-related issues on weekends - which caused smaller fields when races were moved from turf to dirt - caused wagering declines.
But Chuckas did not disagree with Chamblin, who pointed to limited broadcast of the Pimlico signal - Pimlico's races were not simulcast to Churchill Downs and some tracks in Florida - because of industry disputes over Advanced Deposit Wagering as well as competition from other states.
"Pennsylvania is just the latest in a string of three neighboring states now offering rich purses subsidized by alternative gaming," Chamblin said, referring to slot machines. "Despite Maryland's rich tradition and loyal fan base, the changing landscape in three bordering states has put Maryland racing at an extreme disadvantage when it comes to competing for customers and horses."
Nationally, the pari-mutuel handle decreased 3.31 percent. Most of that decline can be blamed on surface-related issues at Santa Anita Park that caused cancellations in January and weather-related cancellations at several other racetracks this spring.
