Saratoga business down so far

With three weeks, or 18 racing days, remaining in this year’s Saratoga meet, daily averages in all-sources handle, ontrack handle, and attendance are all down compared with the same point of last year’s meet.

Through the first 22 days of this year’s expanded 40-day meet, daily average all-sources handle was $13,329,955, down 5.6 percent from last year’s daily average of $14,120,096 through the first 18 days of a 36-day meet.

Daily average ontrack handle through 22 days is $2,804,780, down 12.7 percent from last year’s daily average of $3,211,849 through 18 days.

Daily average attendance through the first 22 days is 21,145, down 13.5 percent from last year’s daily average of 24,439 through 18 days.

So far at this year’s meet there have been 213 races run over 22 days compared with 180 races through the first 18 days of last year’s meet. Average betting interests over 22 days was 8.48 with 98 turf races run and 13 taken off the turf. Average betting interests through 18 days last year averaged 8.7 with 84 turf races run and 10 taken off the turf.