The Breeders’ Cup announced Nov. 2 that the total all-sources, global common-pool handle for the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar was $179,218,631.
According to the Breeders’ Cup, that is the third-largest total handle in the event’s history and an increase of 1.7% from last year ($176,281,989). Only the 2022 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland ($189,060,373) and 2021 event at Del Mar ($182,908,409) surpassed this year.
The handle for Saturday’s 12-race Breeders’ Cup card was $115,538,687. The first day of the Breeders’ Cup saw a 10-race card generate a handle of $63,679,944. Friday’s handle was the second-highest handle for a Breeders’ Cup Friday and the fourth consecutive year the Day 1 handle exceeded $60 million. The record of $66,141,766 was set in 2022 at Keeneland.
The Breeders’ Cup reports that the on-track handle for Friday and Saturday combined was $18,450,724 with $11,767,353 coming from Saturday’s card.
Two-day attendance at the track was 67,418, which far exceeded the number the last time the Breeders’ Cup was held where the turf meets the surf. In 2021, 47,089 came to see the World Championships.
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Excluding 2020 when fans were not allowed in attendance due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s attendance is the second smallest since 2007.
The Breeders’ Cup will return to Del Mar in 2025.
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