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Grants Pass Downs Sets Handle Record On Season Opener Monday
Grants Pass set a new record handle of $461,959 for an eight-race card during Monday's season opener.

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Grants Pass Downs Sets Handle Record On Season Opener Monday

GRANTS PASS, OR—MAY 11, 2020— Grants Pass Downs 2021 opening night Monday (May 10) was record-breaking. The Pacific-Northwest racetrack reported on-track attendance was 735 and the total handle of $461,959 established a record for an eight-race program at the track.

"It’s exciting, we’ve got some beautiful weather and it’s a great night for some racing," said Grants Pass Downs Chief Operating Officer of Racing, Rod Lowe prior to the races Monday.

Despite more people being allowed this year at 15% capacity, Lowe said it’s not nearly as many people as before the pandemic, "We normally in a normal season have 2,500 to 3,000 people."

Fans might have noticed more horses on the starting line this year, new upgrades, including a new safety rail and widened racing start, allows up to 10 horses to compete in each race.

"We spent all winter long making some new improvements and really bringing this place up to higher level and standard than what we have been," said Lowe.

Oregon-breds won both Quarter Horse races Monday night at the mixed-meet. Chumbley ($6.20), under Gutierrez-Sosa, scored in race two, and No Juans Fool ($4.20) broke his maiden under jockey Joree Scriver in race three.

The Firecracker Futurity, a 350-yard sprint for 2-year-olds Quarter Horses, is the richest race of the meet will highlight the July 4 card. Oregon-bred filly Louisiana Bunny registered a 17-to-1 upset in last year’s Firecracker and later captured the John Deere Juvenile Championship at Emerald Downs.

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The 2021 spring-summer meet continues this evening (May 11) with an eight-race program. First post is scheduled at 5:15 p.m. (PDT).