08/06/2012 7:52PM

Saratoga: All-sources handle up; ontrack even

By David Grening
Email

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - All-sources handle is up while ontrack business is flat through the first 16 days of the Saratoga meet compared with last year at this time.

[Complete coverage of racing at Saratoga: News, PPs, and video]

All-sources handle, which includes wagers placed on-track from simulcast outlets, is $233,380,247, a daily average of $14,586,265, up 7.6 percent from 2011.

Ontrack handle totaled $48,208,874, an average of $3,013,055, up 0.7 percent from what was wagered last year.

Attendance through the first 16 days of the meet is 319,806, an average of 19,988 that is a 1.9 percent decrease from 2011.

Saratoga has conducted six more races (166 to 160) this year than it did during the first 16 days in 2011. The average betting interests per race is 8.5 compared with 8.6 in 2011.

There have been 73 turf races run and 13 taken off the turf at this meet compared with 65 turf races run and 12 taken off in 2011.

daveb More than 1 year ago
The lower attendance is a godsend for myself;. since Saratoga is the only track worth visiting in my area of the country. The dillapidated appearance is like the petina of an antique piece of jewelery. As for price gouging and inflated costs. It's simply the free market at work. The locals vacate their homes during this invasion of a horse racing army. Saratoga is a comparative ghost town in the off season. The common bettor is fighting a game that is certainly rigged at Saratoga- more so than a normal venue-. The reason often given for the sudden improvement of that 35-1 longshot is the Saratoga Spring water. It's nasty stuff to say the least. So all I can say is to be creative and keep a notebook especially for Saratoga.
Ray Sousa More than 1 year ago
i agree with everything youve said,spot on.its incredible of how the location of the track and everything else is used as an excuse to revive the moribund longshot, as if a 4 hour drive from belmont park or aqueduct will suddenly improve a horse 20 lenghts,funny how the saratoga effect does not transfer the same improvement to humans.when a go up there i run at the same speed and dont get any benefits from the water or weather.
specialist2395 More than 1 year ago
As far as the attendance goes, perhaps the local hotels gouging the hell out of people has finally caught up to them. 400 a night for a Holiday Inn is repulsive......
Ray Sousa More than 1 year ago
futher proof that racing has become a lottery,people dont care about honesty or form has long as longshots and big payout light up the tote,alls well,welcome to the graveyard of favorites,graveyard of honesty,pla yard of thieves.you pick.
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
before people go nuts and start acusing me of being a chalk player,let me clarify,i love longshots and play them and modesty apart am quite good at finding hidden form at a good price.but thats not what im complaining about,my gripe is with the obvious cheating that anyone with any experience and who understands something about ridding and horse behaviour,handicapping and betting patterns can see,futhermore when every top trainer has thousands of infractions something is wrong,and yes they all do have thousands of infractions and are still training,richard duthrow is just one example dopping violations,false workout information and more yet nothing happens.
mikey More than 1 year ago
The weather is the only reason the handle is up.Went to the spa last week the racing is the best but still the worst place to watch a race.Parking not good place's to eat average seat's even the boxes very tight.About time to build a new grandstand and clubhouse.I know it has charm but it is very old and has out lived the size of the crowd's.When NYRA GET'S THE BOOT MAYBE A NEW SPA IS IN THE WORK'S.