Aqueduct handle up for quarter

Ontrack handle and total handle on Aqueduct races was up for the first quarter of 2006, the New York Racing Association reported Friday. Aqueduct's daily average ontrack handle was up 8.9 percent, from $1,060,684 in the first quarter of 2005 to $1,135,981 from Jan. 1 through March 31 this year. The average all-sources handle was up 2.7 percent, from $8,225,983 to $8,438,303.

Average attendance was down 1.6 percent, from 3,091 in 2005 to 2,991 daily.

Average starters were up 4.3 percent to 7.96 per race from 7.63. NYRA ran 61 racing cards in the first quarter of 2006, compared with 60 in 2005.