Total handle during the Kentucky Downs seven-day race meet that closed on Wednesday was a record $84.74 million, up 4.8 percent compared last year, according to figures derived from the Equibase charts of the races. Average handle per-race was $1,101,855 for 76 races, a slight gain over the per-race average of $1,092,409 for 73 races last year, according to the figures. Prior to the meet, Kentucky Downs raised its takeout rates across-the-board by one point, leading to calls by some on social-media platforms to boycott the track’s races this year. Despite the takeout increase, Kentucky Downs still had some of the lowest takeout rates in the country. Officials for Kentucky Downs said that the decision to raise the takeout was based on increased expenses this year, including fees the track was assessed by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. :: Bet the races with a $250 First Deposit Match + $10 Free Bet and FREE Formulator PPs! Join DRF Bets. Kentucky Downs, which races exclusively on turf and does not have a grandstand, offers the highest average purses in the country, though large portions of the purses are generally restricted to Kentucky-bred horses. The Kentucky-bred supplements are derived from revenues generated by gambling devices operated at a casino adjacent to the track and at a nearby satellite casino. Field size this year was 10.4 horses per race, according to the Equibase analysis. Last year, field size was 10.63 horses per race. Tyler Gaffalione rode 12 winners to take the meet title by five wins over Joel Rosario. Brendan Walsh led all trainers with eight wins from 28 starts, while Mike Maker had five wins from 53 starts, with 10 seconds and nine thirds. Saffie Joseph also had five wins, from 25 starts.  Total handle on major race meets this summer at Saratoga and Del Mar was down by 9 percent this year. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.