Opening weekend handle rises 14 percent from 2019

ARCADIA, Calif. – Boosted by record handle on Saturday’s opening day, Santa Anita showed a 14.1 percent increase in all-sources handle for the first two days of the season compared to corresponding days in 2019.

Saturday’s 11-race program handled $23,003,159, better than the previous record of $20,491,016 set in 2018 or $19,021,102 from last year. Saturday’s figure included ontrack handle of $290,813 from a small group of owners allowed to attend on days their horses are racing. The track is not open to the public because of the pandemic.

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Sunday’s handle was $10,378,039 on a 10-race program, a slight improvement from $10,231,819 on a 10-race program in 2019.

Last year, the start of the meeting was delayed two days because of rain, resulting in an opening day on Saturday, Dec. 28.