Churchill Ends “Super” Meet
The Churchill Downs fall meet ended this past weekend with “impressive gains” in attendance (up 5%) and handle (up 11%). “The supersized fields and talented jockey colony made for top-notch racing,” writes Jennie Rees. “A year ago, with the jockey walkout/ejection, some of us were relieved when the season ended. Not this time. A confluence of circumstances made this an outstanding meet.”
Same of those same circumstances, such as the weather-related damage at Fair Grounds and Ellis Park, are helping fill Oaklawn Park’s stables. The track, which opened for training on November 22, has received a record number of stall requests. Horsemen have asked Oaklawn to accommodate 3,000 horses; the track has 1,500 stalls. About 200 horses are already on Oaklawn’s grounds, including Round Pond and Rockport Harbor, who worked three furlongs in :36 on Saturday. “That was his first work back,” said trainer John Servis. “I’m tickled to death.” Rockport hasn’t raced since April because of a foot injury. As a two-year-old, he was an early leading Kentucky Derby contender; as a four-year-old, he could be a major factor in the handicap division.
