OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—JUNE 4, 2021—Bolstered with support from both longtime horseplayers and fans, along with newcomers who discovered Remington Park during the 2020 pandemic, the American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues to establish records. 

The total horsemen’s purses, and daily average, set new marks for all-time highs. A late-season purse increase added to an already solid schedule, pushing total purses to $16,486,440. 

The daily average for the 49-date session was also a record at $336,458. Both the total and the daily bested the former records set in 2019 when $15,845,849 was paid in purse money for a daily average of $310,703. There were 51 race dates in 2019. The Grade 1, $1,314,980 Heritage Place Futurity on May 29 was the richest event of the season and also the richest race ever contested in Oklahoma. Jet Black Grace was victorious in the historic race. 

Severe winter weather just before the March start of this season forced a schedule change to allow horsemen more time to train their athletes. That alteration sliced one race date off the calendar. 

Remington Park accommodated for more fans to attend the races on-track this spring but still conducted the season under limitations, at less than full capacity operations. This season’s pari-mutuel statistics are being compared to the 2019 season, which was much more comparable for attendance and marketplace. Last year, for all but four weekends of the season, fans were not permitted on-track, while Remington Park presented racing to a massive simulcast export audience as one of only a handful of active tracks. 

Total handle on Remington Park racing reached $43,795,437 this season, for a daily average of $893,784. The total was a 65.5% increase, $17,328,944 more than the 2019 session which had total handle on Remington Park of $26,466,493 and an average of $540,133. 

Export simulcast handle for this spring was $40,884,284, up 77.8%, $17,886,762 more than the 2019 number of $22,997,522. 

“The overwhelming business we experienced last spring during the early stages of the pandemic exposed Quarter Horse Racing to a brand new audience worldwide,” said Matt Vance, vice president of racing operations at Remington Park. “Those new customers remained loyal to us this year, enhancing the overall value of our wagering product. Consistent field size and world class athletes made for another successful spring season, despite the record winter weather early and lingering effects of the pandemic. Our great Remington Park team and our horsemen persevered yet again.” 

Wagering at Remington Park’s one off-track site in Oklahoma City, Thunder Roadhouse, was $149,667, compared to $100,723 in 2019. An increase of $48,944, 48.6%.

On-track handle this season was $2,761,486, down 18% from the similar statistic in 2019 when play on-track reached $3,368,248. 

The average per race handle on Remington Park this year was $79,628 over 550 races. That is 67.6% more than the per race average of $47,516 in 2019 when 557 races were conducted. 

A total of 4,900 horses competed during the 550 races this season for a field size average of 8.91 per race. In 2020, 4,673 horses competed in 520 races for an average field size of 9.18. The average field size in 2019 was 9.39 with 5,233 horses competing throughout 557 races. 

Live racing is on hiatus at Remington Park until Aug. 20 when the 2021 Thoroughbred Season begins. Until then, simulcast racing is presented daily and the casino is always open.

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Tracked by more than 165,000 fans on Facebook and 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $258 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park is open daily for casino gaming and simulcast horse racing. The 2021 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues through May 29. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.