All-sources handle was down but average daily handle was up at New York Racing Association tracks in 2020, a year when operations were dramatically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. All-sources handle on 157 racing cards at NYRA’s three tracks - Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga - in 2020 was $1,813,935,091, a 14 percent decline from $2,108,126,369 wagered on 217 cards in 2019. However, average daily handle in 2020 was $11,553,727, an increase of 19 percent compared to $9,714,868 in 2019. NYRA conducted 1,507 races in 2020 compared to 2,000 races in 2019. Average field size in 2020 was 7.82 horses per race, a 6 percent increase from 2019. Due to the pandemic, racing on this circuit was shut down from mid-March until the beginning of June, forcing NYRA to cancel 43 days of racing. On June 3, NYRA began a 25-day Belmont fall meet that generated $386,654,955 in handle, a 26 percent decline from the previous year, when 48 days of racing were held. :: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more. While NYRA conducted its regular 40-day Saratoga meet, it did trim 10 days from the Belmont fall and seven days from the Aqueduct fall meets compared to 2019. From June 3 through the end of the year, average daily handle was $13,443,601, a 16 percent increase over the same period in 2019. All-sources handle at Saratoga - the only meet at NYRA in 2020 where comparable dates were run with the previous year - was $702,535,468, down slightly from the $705,343,949 wagered in 2019. NYRA operated the last seven months of 2020 without fans in attendance. From Saratoga through the end of the year, a limited number of owners were allowed on site. NYRA has begun 2021 under similar protocols with no fans and only a limited number of owners on site. NYRA president and CEO Dave O’Rourke has said, depending on circumstances regarding the COVID situation, he hopes fans will be permitted on site beginning with the Belmont spring meet in late April.