More evidence of thriving

[Pacer 2]

Oak Grove, KY – In just the third week of the 2026 harness racing meet at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel, a typical 12-race card of overnight races for the southern Kentucky oval generated the third highest betting handle in the track’s six-year history.


Handle at Oak Grove continued to increase in week three of the meet. Tony Centonze Photography.
Monday’s (April 6) races ended on the cusp of a half-million dollars bet with just over $450,000 churning through the windows.

The Monday handle figure is only bested by the 2024 handle record at Oak Grove of $522,941 and the current record of $582,666 set last year on the Monday following the Kentucky Derby. Year over year, Monday’s card showed handle gains of 21.3 percent, and those gains continued into the following race day with Tuesday’s (April 7) card outhandling the previous year by 4.2 percent. Heading into the fourth week of racing, overall handle at Oak Grove remains up year over year by 6.7 percent with over $2 million bet so far this season.

[Sweet]

Maybe if a horse I'm following lands there, otherwise I'm not betting that rabid ky shithole 

[Papillon]

ECONOMIC INDICATORS ON U.S. RACES

April 11, 2026: $5,713,738

2026                                          2025                       % Change
Total Wagered   $329,508,420        $351,605,969         -6.28%
Per Race avg.   $53,327                $54,708                  -2.52%
Per Betting Interest   $6,644         $6,771                  -1.88%
Purses   $70,257,175                 $71,668,200           -1.97%
Race Days   496                               510                         -2.75%

[seen2much]

ECONOMIC INDICATORS ON U.S. RACES

April 11, 2026: $5,713,738

2026                                          2025                       % Change
Total Wagered   $329,508,420        $351,605,969         -6.28%
Per Race avg.   $53,327                $54,708                  -2.52%
Per Betting Interest   $6,644         $6,771                  -1.88%
Purses   $70,257,175                 $71,668,200           -1.97%
Race Days   496                               510                         -2.75%

More evidence that Pacer 2 is clueless.   
 

[Yonkers1A]

More evidence that Pacer 2 is clueless.   
 

Of course he’s clueless, he doesn’t read Trigger

[dinkadoo]

Thriving but harness racing at Oak Grove loses massively every day every race - with many races handle not covering the amount of the purse. 

But hey things are great - till the checks stop or decoupling happens.

[Ignorance Is Bliss]

Welfare - The Official Business Model Of Harness Racing! 

[Papillon]

Thriving but harness racing at Oak Grove loses massively every day every race - with many races handle not covering the amount of the purse. 

But hey things are great - till the checks stop or decoupling happens.

every harness track loses money everyday without welfare --not just Oak Grove

as we all have known for over a decade--handle has nothing to with purses

every track survives on welfare-either gaming or in Gural's case, begging for a state handout

[Ignorance Is Bliss]

[seriously]

The local retard in my city is thriving.  He drooled on himself 3 fewer times than ever before!   EVER!

So, their handle went from shit to shit+1.  Nice.  Very happy for them.  Keep up the great work.  Surely, this will save harness racing. 

[dougie]

Harness racing does not create new fans. Any sport that does not do anything to promote themselves to younger people will continue to decline.

[Ignorance Is Bliss]

 

[rainman2]

How many 4/5 star drivers are racing here?

I don’t even know many of theses drivers, yet alone can bet them with real money!

[Equus Caballus]

Looks like the USTA is blaming it on the weather! 

https://ustrottingnews.com/first-quarter-2026-u-s-harness-racing-economic-indicators/

[dinkadoo]

every harness track loses money everyday without welfare --not just Oak Grove

as we all have known for over a decade--handle has nothing to with purses

every track survives on welfare-either gaming or in Gural's case, begging for a state handout

100% correct. All tracks lose money. Following a quote from Gural years ago, every Tim we turn the lights on… we lose money. 


And as far handle has nothing to do with purses.
   Correct - until the track closes.

But I love the fluff piece of ‘thriving’