Always A Runner Wins Kentucky Oaks And Caps A Big Day

Always A Runner won the 152nd running of the Kentucky Oaks on May 1 at Churchill Downs

Coady Photography

Kentucky Oaks day was one that produced big numbers in several facets. A card that featured seven Stakes races and the 152nd running of that showcase for three-year-old fillies indeed shined the spotlight on the sport of Thoroughbred racing. A crowd of over 100,000 people saw Always A Runner win the feature as they broke out their wallets and wagered a record amount while witnessing some fantastic four-legged athletes.

Betting Handle Sets Record And Features Nice Payouts

The all-sources betting numbers for Kentucky Oaks day was a record $89 million. All sources means wagers placed on the races run at Churchill Downs at other tracks, on-line, at off-track betting facilities combined with those bets beneath the Twin Spires tallied $89 million. Of that total, $29 million was invested in speculation on the Kentucky Oaks, which is also a record.

The return on those investments at the window may have not been eye-popping but they were very solid. In those seven Stakes races only two post-time favorites (On Time Girl, Imaginationthelady) were victorious. No tremendous longshots came home first in races 7 through 13, but the average return for a $2 win wager was $12.16. Moon Spun offered up the best payout of $29.18 (race 7) and keyed a superfecta (top four finishers) payout of $3084.93 on a $1 wager. The 20-cent pick six (last six races of the day) paid $4352.86 to those who forecasted correctly.

The updated paddock has been a part of the nearly billion dollars in capital improvements at Churchill Downs

Lisa Brewer

Oaks Fans See The Magnificence of Churchill Downs