Saratoga handle up 9.4% during first week of meet

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – All-sources handle for the first four days of the 2020 Saratoga meet was $80,325,660, an increase of 9.4 percent over last year’s figure of $73,441,100.

Due to COVID-19-related restrictions, which include no fans on-site and only limited owners with no access to mutuel machines, nearly all money wagered on Saratoga came via account-wagering platforms.

There were 41 races run both last year and this year through the first four cards. This year, there were 18 turf races run, with two transferred to the dirt due to weather. In 2019, there were 19 turf races run and five taken off and run on dirt.

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Average field size for this meet is 7.43, compared to 7.93 through the first four cards last year.

Trainers Chad Brown and Christophe Clement both had sensational starts to the meet. Brown, seeking his fourth Saratoga trainer’s title in five meets, won six races from 16 starters, including three stakes. Clement won five races from 13 starters, including two stakes. Clement won three races on Sunday’s card.

Jockey Jose Ortiz, looking to defend the Saratoga riding title he won last year, rode eight winners opening week as did Joel Rosario, who won three stakes, two for Clement.