NYRA handled $2.1 billion in 2019, basically even with 2018

The New York Racing Association handled $2,108,126,369 at its three racetracks in 2019, basically flat compared to business in 2018, according to figures released Friday afternoon by the organization.

The 2019 figure, achieved over 217 race days, was off by 0.2 percent compared to the $2,113,408,494 handled over 219 days in 2018. There were 2,000 races run between Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga in 2019, 38 fewer than were run at those tracks in 2018.

On-track handle on NYRA’s races in 2019 was $310,053,754, a 5.2 percent decrease from the 2018 total of $326,893,963.

In 2019, NYRA experienced significant increases at Saratoga and Aqueduct fall. At Saratoga, all-sources handle topped $700 million for the first time as racing was conducted over eight weeks instead of seven. There was a 7 percent increase over business in 2018. At the Aqueduct fall meet, NYRA handled $205,249,710, a 49-percent increase over the fall of 2018.

Conversely, with one less week of racing at the Belmont spring/summer meet - and without a Triple Crown on the line in the Belmont Stakes - handle was $524,051,257, down 17.3 percent compared to the 2018 spring meet when Justify completed the Triple Crown. Handle at the Belmont fall meet was $274,929,718 up 2.2 percent over 2018.

NYRA has 217 days of live racing scheduled in 2020, which is seven fewer days than were scheduled in 2019.