Handle this year was also up 9% on the previous record set in 2019, highlighting the scale of pent-up demand for the US’ staple horseracing event post-pandemic.
Attendance at this year’s event was 147,294, up from 51,838 last year. Last year’s attendance, however, was heavily impacted by Covid-19 restrictions.
The week preceding the Kentucky Derby, known as Derby week, also saw record handle of $391.8m, up 25% from last year and up 14% on the previous record-holding Derby week in 2019.
This year’s Kentucky Derby saw 80/1 outsider Rich Strike – ridden by Sonny Leon – pull off a shock upset in its charge to victory, despite having the lowest odds among all 20 horses (it was even 99/1 at one stage).
What’s more, Rich Strike was only brought into the race on Friday, after another horse was forced to drop out.
Rich Strike’s victory is the second-longest shot to win the Run for the Roses after 1913’s event was won by Donerail, at odds of 91/1.
Punters backing Rich Strike would’ve seen lucrative returns, although bookmakers would not have been as hard hit as the favourites did not come through.
The Kentucky Derby is the first of a Triple Crown series; Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore (21 May) and Belmont Stakes at Elmont’s Belmont Park (11 June), are the second and third races in the US’ flagship horseracing series.
