The Diamond Mile race day, sponsored by the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission and Supreme Ventures Limited, provided the impetus for a record-breaking race day on Saturday (December 2) at Caymanas Park.

The total handle on the 14-race programme was a whopping $71.7 million, beating the old mark of $66 million from 2015 on the first Diamond Mile race day. The average amount per race worked out at $5.12 million.

It was a relatively even day for punters at the racetrack and the off-track betting parlours as seven favourites obliged while two long shots, Cartel in the eighth at 26-1 and My Angel Briannah in the night pan at 20-1, upsetting punters a bit. The Pick-9 exotic wager was the only major bet not caught on the day and now has a carryover of $5,895,280.30 to the next race day, which is Saturday, December 9.

For the racing promoter, Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), it was a glorious result achieved with the benefit of good promotions by the Diamond Mile team.

“It was a record day for us at the track and our off-track betting parlours across the island.

“The day on Saturday (December 2) saw 179 horses nominated. The races offered by our Racing Department were competitive and when you have competitive races with the top horses, trainers and jockeys participating, all the elements are combined for a truly memorable race day, with a record handle being the desired result.

“There was full engagement by the stakeholders plus again, we saw the effects of what good promotions can achieve for the sport of horse racing, and the result of churning over $71.7 million through the tote is vindication of the success of the Diamond Mile race day and its long-term value to the growth and development of horse racing,” chief operating officer at SVREL, Brando Hayden told the Supreme Racing Guide.