Fine weather helps boost business
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Blessed by great weather and large fields, Saratoga has achieved double-digit increases in all-sources and ontrack handle through the first 22 days of the 2015 meet compared to last year.
All-sources handle through Monday, the 22nd day of the 40-day meet, was $344,347,767, a 15.7 percent increase over last year’s total of $297,695,341 over the same time period.
Ontrack handle totaled $86,774,373, an 11.8 percent increase over last year’s figure of $77,595,620. Through Monday, there has been one more race run this year than last year (223 to 222). There have been 112 turf races run through Monday, including six steeplechase races, with only five having to be transferred to the main track due to rain. Last year, through the first 22 days, there were 104 turf races conducted with 15 moved to the main track.
Field size has been a major driving point to the meet’s success. Average field size this meet has been 8.63 horses per race (1,924 starters in 223 races) compared to 8.00 (1,776 in 222 races) last year.
With dry weather predominant, the main track has been listed as fast and the turf courses firm on 20 of the 22 days of the meet.
The success of the meet also has been aided by a late start. With Labor Day as late as possible this year (Sept. 7), Saratoga opened July 24, more in line with traditional opening days. Last year, with Labor Day as early as possible (Sept. 1), the meet opened July 18.
The number of paid admissions to Saratoga this year has been 605,558, an 18.1 percent increase over last year’s figure of 512,719. The number of paid admissions does not reflect actual attendance because the New York Racing Association includes in that figure daily season passes sold (about 8,400) and season-long box holders, even if they don’t attend the races.
This coming week is the slowest on the calendar with only one graded stakes, Saturday’s Grade 1 Alabama. But the following week is Travers week and NYRA has already announced that the event is sold out after capping paid admissions at 50,000.
Of course, Travers Day business would be boosted if Triple Crown hero American Pharoah runs in the Travers. A decision on that is expected after his next workout over the weekend.