Published Saturday, November 6th, 2021   ( 2 years ago )

Record Handle for 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships

Total all-sources common-pool handle for the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club was $182,908,409, a new record for the two-day event.

The total represents a 4.7% increase over the prior record of $174,628,986 set when the event was held at Santa Anita Park in 2019 and a 14.0% increase from the total handle of $160,472,893 at the 2020 event held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

Total common-pool handle on Saturday's 12-race Breeders' Cup card was a record $121,562,392. All sources common-pool handle on Breeders’ Cup’s 10-race Future Stars Friday card was $61,346,017, also a new record for a Breeders’ Cup Friday. This is the fourth consecutive year that Breeders’ Cup grouped all its juvenile races together on Friday.

“We had an extraordinary two days of racing showcasing the best Thoroughbreds from around the world and we want to thank our partners here at Del Mar, who did an amazing job, and the greater San Diego community, our gracious hosts this week,” said Breeders’ Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming. “The Breeders’ Cup is a truly global event with winners this weekend bred, raised and raced on three different continents.”

On-track handle for the two days was $19,032,307. On-track attendance for the two days was 47,089. Due to precautions related to COVID-19, Breeders’ Cup and Del Mar reduced ticket capacity for the 2021 event.

“Our team at Del Mar was thrilled to host this year’s renewal of the Breeders’ Cup,” said Josh Rubinstein, Del Mar’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “We want to extend our congratulations to all of this weekend’s participants. They put on an amazing display of world-class competition.”

The Breeders Cup World Championships will return to Keeneland in 2022.

Breeders' Cup Two-Day Attendance and Handle (common-pool) history:

YEAR LOCATION ATTENDANCE HANDLE
2021 Del Mar 47,089 $182,908,409
2020 Keeneland No Attendance Reported  $160,472,893
2019 Santa Anita 109,054 $174,628,986
2018 Churchill Downs 112,672 $157,445,841
2017 Del Mar 70,420 $166,077,486
2016 Santa Anita 118,484 $156,861,811
2015 Keeneland 94,652 $149,869,035
2014 Santa Anita 98,319 $151,158,813
2013 Santa Anita 94,628 $160,704,877
2012 Santa Anita 89,742 $144,272,332
2011 Churchill Downs 105,820 $161,512,867
2010 Churchill Downs 114,353 $173,857,697
2009 Santa Anita 96,496 $153,271,176
2008 Santa Anita 86,588 $155,740,328
2007 Monmouth Park 69,584 $129,197,262