All-sources handle rises at Aqueduct winter meet but daily average is flat

Due to less weather-related cancellations, all-sources handle at Aqueduct’s 2018-19 winter meet was up 14.2 percent, but average daily handle was basically flat compared to the corresponding time period from the previous winter, according to figures released Tuesday by the New York Racing Association.

From Dec. 7, 2018 through Sunday, all-sources handle on Aqueduct’s races was $335,521,091, compared to $293,795,129 from Dec. 8, 2017 through March 31, 2018.

Average daily handle this winter was $5,592,018, up 0.9 percent from the previous winter’s figure of $5,543,304.

This winter, Aqueduct held 59 full cards of racing and conducted 516 races. Average field size was 7.11 starters per race. Due to weather, three additional full cards were canceled and one card lost its final three races.

From Dec. 8, 2017 through March 31, 2018, Aqueduct held 51 full cards of racing and conducted 453 races. Average field size was 6.97 starters per race. Due to weather, 10 additional full cards were canceled and parts of two others were halted before they were completed.

Ontrack handle on Aqueduct’s races for the winter of 2018-19, was $40,881,947, up 20. -percent from last year’s figure of $34,039,134.