The number of horses claimed in the mid-Atlantic region rose significantly last week versus the prior one, but the gross value of those horses was virtually unchanged. As a result, the average and median values of horses claimed at Charles Town, Delaware, Monmouth, Parx Racing, and Penn National both fell significantly.
Even without Colonial Downs, which ran its last day of the season July 13, the number of horses claimed at mid-Atlantic tracks in the seven-day period ending July 24 rose from 57 to 67, an increase of more than 17 percent. The gross value of those horses — $678,000 — was actually slightly less than the $684,500 recorded last week. Thus, the average dropped by more than 15 percent, to $10,119, and the median fell by 25 percent to $7,500.
Parx led the five tracks in both horses claimed and gross value. Some 20 horses changed hands via the claimbox in Bensalem, PA, last week, with a gross value of over $220,000. Monmouth was second in both categories, with 17 horses with a combined value of $181,000 changing hands. The five claimed horses at Delaware Park averaged $15,000 to lead the region.
Peter Kazamias and Ramon Moya led all trainers in both number of horses claimed and total value. Kazamias claimed four with a combined value of $47,500, while Moya’s four claims were worth $36,000. Kazamias had three claimed away from him last week, tying him with Jorge Navarro and John Locke as the most claimed-from trainers. The total value of horses claimed from Navarro, $31,000, topped all trainers.
