Channing Hill (right) crosses the finish line on All Right just ahead of Declan Cannon, riding Parlor, during the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Stakes on Sept. 3 at Kentucky Downs.

Kentucky Downs’ five-date all-turf meet in September has topped the 2017 HANA Racetrack Rankings for the third consecutive year.

The rankings, in their ninth year, are based on an algorithm using factors indicative of horseplayer betting value, gleaned from both empirical and academic study, according to a news release issued by the Horseplayers Association of North America. Key factors including takeout rate, field size, pool size and signal distribution are analyzed track by track and weighted to produce a final composite score.

“With low takeout and a field size of almost 11 horses per race, Kentucky Downs continues to excite customers,” HANA president Jeff Platt said in the release. “Despite an abbreviated meet, the ratings algorithm does not discriminate when it comes to betting value: Kentucky Downs has it, and horseplayers responded with another year of record handles.”

“Kentucky Downs is once again honored to be recognized as HANA’s number one track for the third year in a row,” added C.J. Johnsen, director of broadcasting and wagering at the Franklin track. “Our team has worked hard to give horseplayers the best value for their wagering dollar, and it is extremely gratifying to see such a positive response. We have the utmost respect for HANA and their rankings and look forward to working with them for many years to come.”

The algorithm ranked Suffolk Downs’ micro-meet (race dates this year are July 8-9, August 5-6, and Sept. 2-3) second, based almost solely on their North America-low 15-percent across-the-board takeout rates. Major tracks Keeneland, Saratoga and Del Mar rounded out this year’s top five.