08/14/2012 10:02AM

Saratoga: More races mean increase in total handle at meet

By David Grening
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Through the first 22 cards of the meet, through Monday, Saratoga has hosted nine more races - or the equivalent of one twilight Friday card - than it did last year at this time, resulting in a 6.5 percent increase in all-sources handle when compared to 2011.

All-sources handle was $310,065,500, a daily average of $14,093,886, compared with $291,181,532 wagered at this point in the meet in 2011. There have been 228 races run at this meet, compared to 219 run last year.

Ontrack handle totaled $66,113,956, $3,005,180 per day, a 0.8 percent decline from last year’s $66,610,255.

Attendance through the first 22 days was 465,293, averaging 21,150 daily, a 1.9 percent decrease from last year’s total of 474,254.

The average number of betting interests per race this year is 8.3, compared to 8.4 last year. There have been 93 turf races run and 26 taken off, compared to 92 run and 17 taken off in 2011.

mikey More than 1 year ago
Saraoga as is all track's are not the same anymore.Delmar with cheap claimers,Churchill and NYRA loaded with cheap claimer's this is the future of racing.With all these so called good horse's retired where are all the good babies.
MultiraceWagers More than 1 year ago
How many more 20,000B can you card in one meet?
mikey More than 1 year ago
What a surprise if you run more races you have more handle.NYRA is so sharp how could the gov want to get rid of them.If the stewards don't stop betting early anymore it might even be higher.
mike More than 1 year ago
How about quality races? Small tracks with 4k run good races.The racing cards have been below average-and in 5-10 years the only game in NY will be casinos!
mikey More than 1 year ago
That's all they want is slots Slots don't use drugs and work in any weather if they break down just wheel in another one.
JOSHUA More than 1 year ago
I agree. Check out the entries for Thursday. Steeplechase, steeplechase, maiden, special, maiden claiming, maiden claiming and well you get my drift. I was going to drive four hours from New Hampshire to the spa but after looking at the entries I am staying home. The racing secretary should be ashamed of himself for subjecting people to this sub standard card. I would not bet most of those races with free money.