Increase in retail wagering keeps Saratoga handle steady at halfway point
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – All-sources handle for the first 23 days of the 2026 Saratoga meet is $477,194,128, less than a half-percent decline when compared to 23 days of racing in 2025 when $478,928,112 was handled, according to figures provided by the New York Racing Association.
The good news is that retail play has increased by 6.8 percent, while computer assisted wagering handle has declined by 29 percent, owing in large part to guardrails the NYRA put up earlier this year. Those guardrails limit CAW play within the final two minutes to post and are designed to limit the odds fluctuations in straight pools as well as will-pay/real-pay differentials in exacta pools that frustrate players at other tracks.
Retail handle is $408,746,791 this meet, compared to $382,589,499 a year ago. CAW play is $68,447,337 this year compared to $96,338,613 in 2025.
The handle figures for 2026 cover July 3 through Saturday’s Whitney Day card, a total of 23 days of racing and 238 races. The 23 days of 2025 cover from July 4 through the Aug. 9 Whitney card when 243 races were run, but exclude business for three Wednesdays (July 15, 23, 30) that correspond to dark days at the 2026 meet.
At this meet, through Saturday, there have been 105 races on turf and nine races that were rained off to dirt. During the corresponding period in 2025, there were 99 races run, 23 moved to dirt.
Paid attendance thus far is 506,116, down 12 percent compared to 575,747 during the corresponding period a year ago.
NYRA canceled the July 29 card due heavy rain. Provided there are no more cancellations, this meet will total 45 dates, lasing through Labor Day, Sept. 7.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.