Churchill Handle Losses Continue, Down 55% Sunday.

While Belmont had a good handle weekend, and other tracks took advantage of horse racing being in the mainstream with the California Chrome Triple Crown try, Churchill Downs had no such luck. Friday through Sunday, handle at the Louisville, Ky oval fell over $5 million. On Sunday, handle was down a whopping 55%.

So far, for the meet, handle is down $37,922,365.

In the mainstream press, field size has been given as a reason for the decline, and surely some of the decline is field size related, however, since mid month field size has improved from down over 10% to down only 8.8% - only 0.67 horse per race. During this time, meet losses of approximately 25% - one of every four dollars - has continued. Average handle per day has dropped 27.71%.

Playersboycott.org has updated the numbers here. They've recommended that horseplayers who wish can continue to withhold wagering at Churchill as well as all CDI owned properties, ADW's and data providers. In a poll early in the meet, HANA members, in a published survey, overwhelmingly supported the initiative, in whole or in part. Jeff Platt, HANA President, recently told the Bloodhorse that Churchill Downs has not reached out to speak with boycotting horseplayers, but the door is always open should the corporation choose.

HANA will update members here on the blog as the meet inches closer to its conclusion.