OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—JUNE 20, 2017—The recently completed 2017 American Quarter Horse Season at Remington Park provided the first stars of the year in the sport and an increase in pari-mutuel handle over the previous season.

Nymeria won the season’s richest race, the Grade 1, $1,154,700 Heritage Place Futurity, on the final night of the season, June 3. Her effort, along with those of many other featured stakes winners through the season, will set those racing stars on a path to compete for end of year championship honors.

The highest quality Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa racing helped draw more interest from horseplayers this year as total handle on Remington Park racing increased by 7.3% over the 2016 season. Remington Park’s 565 races, two more than a year ago, had total wagering of $22,447,605, up from $20,920,288 last year.

The handle increase was driven in large part by more participation from outside the Remington Park wagering jurisdiction. Export handle, that of players not on-track or at a Remington Park operated off-track site in Oklahoma City, were up 9.7% compared to 2016 with $18,932,716 played versus $17,257,254 a year ago.

"The Remington Park Quarter Horse Season continues to excel each spring with high-level stakes events for older horses as well as a lucrative series of marquee futurities and derbies," noted announcer Dale Day. "The quality of the horses and horsemen competing here on a yearly basis is top-notch and is recognized by horseplayers and fans alike."

Remington Park’s two off-track locations in Oklahoma City wagered $132,514 this year, up 31.2% from the $101,007 played a year ago.

On-track wagering business declined with $3,382,375 played over the 50-date season in 2017, down 5% from the $3,562,027 bet a year ago. The 2017 and 2016 seasons each had 50 race dates.

The average daily handle on Remington Park racing increased by 9.4% for 2017. An average of $448,952 was bet daily this season, up from $410,202 in 2016.

Horsemen competing at Remington Park continued to fill the race cards as the average field size held strong with 9.01 starters per race, the same average as in 2016. The 5,091 starters this year competed for total purses of $13,179,175. The average daily purses for the 50 dates this season reached $263,584.

Live horse racing is now on hiatus at Remington Park until the 2017 Thoroughbred Season which runs Aug. 25 thru Dec. 17.

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Tracked by over 125,000 fans on Facebook and 9,000 Twitter followers, Remington Park is the home of the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity on June 3. Remington Park has provided over $167 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Open daily at 10:30am with free parking and admission, Oklahoma City's only Racetrack & Casino is located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.