(Grand Prairie, Texas - Monday, November 20, 2017) - Lone Star Park concluded its 20th Fall Quarter Horse Season on Saturday, November 11 with gains in attendance and on-track live handle. Attendance was up 1.6 percent this year, with a total of 101,022 fans visiting during the 26-day season. The daily average was 3,885. Last year's total was 99,446, averaging 3,825 per day for also a 26-day season.

Despite nine fewer races run this year, 231 total races were run compared to 240 run in 2016, the on-track live wagering handle rose 0.7 percent to $2,280,196. The total wagered on last year's on-track live product was $2,264,873. The overall total, or "all-sources", wagering however was down. Total all-sources handle was $20,120,062, compared to the $21,220,975 all-sources handle in 2016, a drop of 5.2 percent.

The simulcast of the Breeders' Cup Championships from Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on November 3 and 4 had the highest fan turnout since 2008, the first year the Breeders' Cup was first split over two days. The combined two-day record total was 12,543, an increase of 6.4 percent over last year's two-day record total of 11,789.

Also, the first day of Breeders' Cup, Friday, November 3, showed a significant 35.8 percent increase in on-track live handle. The on-track live total handle was $73,437, the highest amount wagered here on the first day of Breeders' Cup since 2013. Last year's on-track live wagering total comparatively was $54,068.

Live Racing

A total of 1,902 horses raced during the 26-day meeting. The total amount of purses paid was $3,522,179, for an average of $135,468 per day of live racing. The total amount of stakes purses paid during the season was $2,230,821.

The 25th running of the Texas Classic Futurity (G1), Texas' richest race, was showcased on closing night Saturday, November 11, which also featured the Texas Classic Derby (G1) and the Texas Classic Juvenile Stakes.

The Texas Classic Futurity was won by longshot Thecartelofmiracle ($29.20). The gelding by Tough and Good is owned by Mauro Luciano Villarreal and trained by Alonso Neri. He was ridden to victory by Manuel Gutierrez. The Texas Classic Derby was won by Apolltical Chad, ridden by 10-time World Champion Jockey G. R. Carter, Jr. The gelding by Apollitical is owned by Nueve Racing and trained by Wesley Giles. The Texas Classic Juvenile Stakes winner was She Eat Fire. The filly by Corona Cartel was ridden by Ricky Ramirez, trained by Trey Wood, and is owned by Paragon Farms, LLC.

Jockey Ricky Ramirez earned his seventh Lone Star Park riding title, winning 27 races from 84 starts, with earnings totaling $242,345. Trainer Trey Wood earned his sixth training title at the Grand Prairie track with 21 wins from 101 starts for earnings of $289,403.

The leading owner of the meet was Paragon Farms, LLC, with seven wins from 18 starts for earnings of $132,084.

2017 FALL MEETING BUSINESS LEVELS:

Lone Star Park plans a 43-day Thoroughbred Season in 2018 beginning on April 19 concluding July 22.