Numbers mixed for Belmont

Total ontrack handle was up while all-sources handle was down at the recently concluded Belmont Park spring/summer meeting. With the cancellation of Sunday's final card, Belmont conducted 58 days of racing this year, compared with 59 cards in 2007.

Ontrack handle totaled $69,722,257 (for a daily average of $1,202,108), up 1.5 percent from the $68,718,518 (a daily average of $1,164,721) wagered in 2007.

Total all-sources handle for the meet, which included money bet on Belmont races from simulcast outlets, was $662,605,734, (a daily average of $11,424,237), a 2.2 percent decrease from 2007 when total all-sources handle was $677,495,619 (daily average $11,482,977).

Total attendance for the Belmont meet was up 2.9 percent to 391,634 (a daily average of 6,752) from 380,531 (6,450 daily) in 2007. Attendance figures were aided by a Belmont Stakes Day crowd of 94,476, compared with 46,870 in 2007.

Ontrack wagering on Belmont Day rose 49.9 percent to $13,256,019 from $8,843,720 in 2007. Total all-sources handle on Belmont Stakes Day rose 32.6 percent to $100,378,472 from $75,686,429 in 2007.