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Positive Factors Add Up For Solid Remington Park Sprint Season
The first race of the 2018 Remington Park2018 Remington Park American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season.

© Dustin Orona Photography
Positive Factors Add Up For Solid Remington Park Sprint Season

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—JUNE 12, 2018—The 2018 Remington Park American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season experienced increases in attendance and pari-mutuel handle compared to the similar season in 2017.

Star-quality horses, including: two-time American Quarter Horse Association World Champion Jessies First Down; three-time defending World Champion Paint Horse Painted Turnpike; and 2017 AQHA Champion 3-year-old Hold Air Hostage, all put forth their best in winning stakes races this season.

Jessies First Down won the Remington Park Championship on June 2, setting a new 440-yard track record in the process. Hold Air Hostage won the Sooner State Stakes before settling for second behind Jessies First Down in the Remington Park Championship. Painted Turnpike won three stakes races, increasing his all-time career record for Remington Park wins during this season to 13.

Sunnysyde won the richest race of the season, the Grade 1, $1,024,840 Heritage Place Futurity, on the last race night of the session on June 2. The Heritage Place Futurity is the richest horse race in Oklahoma.

Top horses combined with well-received promotions and great spring weather helped Remington Park experience an on-track live handle increase of 8%, an export handle increase of 10.1% and a total handle on Remington Park racing increase of 9.7% when compared to last year. Remington Park attendance also spiked 13.7%, definitely contributing to the solid numbers for the season.

"People will come from far and wide to see the world’s fastest athletes and Remington Park put them on display," said Scott Wells, Remington Park president and general manager. "The fact that our numbers were up in all the key statistical categories is testimony to the quality of our racing product and our customer service."

The total handle on Remington Park racing for the 50-date season was $24,584,235. That total number was $2,181,712 (9.7%) more than the 2017 season which was also 50 dates in length.

The on-track handle this season reached $3,659,770, up $272,519 (8%) over the 2018 season. Total attendance for the season was 471,512, good for 5,512 (13.7%) more than last year’s Quarter Horse season.

The export handle on Remington Park grew to $20,797,674, good for $1,914,918 (10.1%) more than last year’s season.

Remington Park’s off-track site in Oklahoma City, Thunder Roadhouse, handled $126,791 on the live racing. That total was down $5,725 (-4.3%) from 2017 Quarter Horse Season.

Remington Park horses and horsemen competed for increased purses this season and loaded the starting gate accordingly in pursuit of their share of the money. Total purses reached $14,447,830 (up 9.6%) for a daily average of $288,959. The total purses distributed in 2017 accounted for $13,179,175 with the daily average of $263,584.

The total number of horses starting Remington Park races was 5,240 for an average field size over the 571 races of 9.18. In 2017, when 565 races were contested, the total number of horses competing was 5,091 for an average field size of 9.01.

Remington Park experienced no shortened race cards this season due to weather. The 2017 season had one racing program cut short due to a power outage caused by severe thunderstorms.

Live racing is now on hiatus at Remington Park until the beginning of the 2018 Thoroughbred Season. That 67-date session runs from August 24 thru December 16.

Remington Park is always open, 24 hours, for casino gaming. Simulcast horse racing is presented daily beginning at approximately 11am.

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Tracked by over 140,000 fans on Facebook and more than 9,600 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided over $192 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Remington Park, Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino, is home to the $1,024,840 Heritage Place Futurity, on Saturday, June 2. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, Remington Park is in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.