Aqueduct spring meet had 2 percent gain in total handle over 2019

All-sources handle at the 2021 Aqueduct spring meet that concluded Sunday was $85,419,050, a 2.2 percent increase over the $83,579,364 handled at the 2019 spring meet, according to the New York Racing Association.

The 2020 spring meet was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Handle was up in 2021 despite Aqueduct running one fewer day and 15 fewer races than in 2019. At this spring’s meet there were 11 days of racing with 95 total races, 29 of which were contested on the turf. In 2019, there were 12 days of racing with 110 races, 39 of which were run on the turf. Average daily handle was $7,765,368 in 2021 compared to $6,964,947 in 2019, an increase of 11.5 percent.

Average field size was virtually identical with 7.23 starters per race this spring, compared to 7.25 in 2019.

This year’s spring meet was conducted without fans allowed ontrack. NYRA’s ontrack handle for the 2021 meet, derived mostly through in-state residents who placed wagers through NYRABets -- as well as some ontrack wagering from owners and trainers -- was $5,734,531 compared to $9,987,247 in 2019.

NYRA handled $14,439,636 on this year’s 11-race Wood Memorial card, down from $14,818,272 handled on the 2019 Wood program.

Racing on this circuit moves to Belmont Park beginning Thursday.