The 2009 Thoroughbred/Quarter Horse racing season at the North Dakota Horse Park came to a conclusion on September 7^th with practically every Horse Park record broken at least once, sometimes twice.  Although the track missed one day of its 16 day race meet due to inclement weather, records for total attendance, total handle and total income were all eclipsed in a fantastic summer of racing at the Fargo, North Dakota track.

Although scheduled 16 race days over 7 weeks, the track lost a full day of racing when downpours drenched the region on August 15 and forced a cancellation of that day’s race card, reducing the number of race days to 15.  The lost day mattered little in the end however.  Utilizing a new tote system provided by AmTote International, total on-track handle jumped an amazing 48% from $415,880 in 2008 (16 days) to $616,298 for 15 days in 2009.  “We had a 12% increase from 2007 to 2008, so to jump 48% in 2009 is just astounding” said General Manager Heather Benson, who is completing her second season at the helm of the Horse Park.  “Considering that nationwide wagering on racing is down double digits in this economy, we are very, very happy with our 2009 numbers!”  Daily on-track handle averaged $41,086, an increase of 58% over the 2008 average of $25,993.  The Horse Park offered a total of 138 races over 15 days in 2009. 

Supplemental revenue at the Fargo, North Dakota continued the dramatic trend upward that was seen also in 2008.  Daily attendance averaged 3800, up from 3300 in 2008 and 2500 in 2007.  The Horse Park broke its own one-day attendance record twice, on July 24 and August 1, each day surpassing the 5000 mark.  Those attendance figures brought all other numbers up with daily concession sales jumping 54% and program and daily gift shop sales rising 27%.  In all, the North Dakota Horse Park saw a 43% jump in average daily receipts over 2008 and a 23% jump in overall revenue although running with 1 fewer day of racing.  “We are very excited by these numbers.  We took some risks this season by changing our traditional race week from 3 days (Fri, Sat, Sun) to 2 days and marketing the Horse Park as an entertainment venue for a weekend out.” stated Heather Benson “We saw great growth from 2007 to 2008 and now again from 2008 to 2009, it’s onward and upward from here!”

Jockey Jake Olesiak won his 4th straight riding title at the Horse Park by guiding home 34 winners and maintaining an amazing 77% in-the-money percentage.  The 21-year-old rider from Cloquet, MN broke his own record for winners on a card by riding 7 of 9 to victory on July 25.  Owner Tom Maher from Box Elder, SD took home the leading owner title and his 4-year-old Quarter Horse filly, No Temper Here became the Horse Park all-time Quarter Horse stakes winner with a victory in the AQHA Challenge Stakes.  Dave Bernhardt of Wishek, ND nosed out Bob Johnson and Ernest Fennel for the leading trainer title by saddling 12 winners during the meet and the winners of the NDTOBA Derby, the NDTOBA Mile Cup and the Shooting Star Stakes on the final weekend.