All-sources handles on NYRA races declines 5.3 percent in 2024

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – All-sources handle at the New York Racing Association in 2024 was $2,088,905,480, a decrease of 5.3 percent from the 2023 figure of $2,204,653,635, according to figures provided Friday by the New York Racing Association.

There were 1,783 races run over 190 race days in 2024 compared to 1,839 races run over 196 days in 2023. Average daily handle in 2024 at NYRA tracks – which included just Aqueduct and Saratoga – was $10,994,239, a 2.3 percent decline from the average of $11,248,233 on NYRA tracks in 2023, which included a spring/summer meet at Belmont Park. An ongoing renovation of Belmont Park, scheduled to be completed in 2026, prompted all downstate racing to be held at Aqueduct in 2024.

There were 449 turf races runs at NYRA in 2024 compared to 473 in 2023, while 79 scheduled turf races were moved to the dirt in 2024 compared to 126 off-the-turf races in 2023.

Ontrack handle at NYRA tracks in 2024 was $261,504,070, a 4.5 percent decline from $273,905,651 in 2023.

In 2024, the four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival was held at Saratoga, where handle was $197,426,085, compared to the 2023 figure of $159,609,616 when held at Belmont Park. However, in 2023, the Thursday card of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival was canceled due to poor air quality conditions related to Canadian wildfires.

Average field size at NYRA in 2024 was 7.55 horses per race, a slight increase over the 2023 figure of 7.44.

All-sources handle at the Aqueduct fall meet, which ran from Nov. 7-Dec. 31, was $188,951,240, a 20.4 percent decline from the 2023 figure of $237,230,44. However, there were five fewer days run this year at the Aqueduct fall session (26 compared to 31). Average daily handle was $7,558,050, a 1.2 percent decline from the 2023 figure of $7,652,595.

There were 228 races run this fall, including 28 on turf, compared to 282 races, 38 on turf, in 2023. No scheduled turf races at this fall’s Aqueduct meet had to be moved to dirt, while only three scheduled turf races were run in 2023.

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