Handle Records, Bettor Math, and More

Tampa Bay Downs set another all-sources handle record this past meet. The gain was 8% and according to Peter Berube, their lower take played a part.

Despite the loss of handle from New York City OTB parlors, the Oldsmar oval’s total all-sources handle grew to $411,484,853, up $30,495,981 or 8%. "Overall, we credit our lower takeout, large fields, 18% more turf racing and greater access to the California market as key to our success as well as a larger simulcast following nationwide.” said Berube.

If the tri take or WPS show take is looked at for next season, one can surmise handle will again surge at the Florida track.

Brad Free has been doing an excellent job showing the industry what the low take pick 5 is doing in California.

"Horseplayers have embraced the low-takeout pick five wager introduced this spring at Hollywood Park. Three weeks into the meet, the 50-cent pick five has out-handled the traditional $2 pick six – $1.8 million to $1.7 million.


Call it a victory for the law of supply and demand. With a takeout rate of 14 percent, the pick five is the least expensive wager in California. Meanwhile, the pick-six takeout rate is 23.86 percent."

He goes on to show some very important carryover data for horseplayers and it is a must read.

With all the talk of the "economy" coming out of California and some other states as a crutch, Tampa Bay Downs and the low takeout pick 5 at Hollywood are showing the industry that when common-sense is embraced, along with a little bit of hard work, our sport can grow.