Saratoga handle down compared to last year

All-sources handle through the first four weeks (19 cards) of the Saratoga meet is $380,474,631, down 8.8 percent from the $416,970,416 handled through the first 19 days of the 2022 meet, according to figures provided by the New York Racing Association.

Ontrack handle is $65,703,793, down 6.5 percent from the 2022 figure of $70,264,281 handled last year to this point.

Paid admissions are 509,741, up 4.8 percent from the 486,408 figure of 2022. Paid admissions include season passes sold.

Weather has impacted the 2023 Saratoga meet, forcing 26 scheduled turf races to the main track. Only five races were taken off the turf to this point in 2022, 17 for the entire meet. Of the 194 races run this year, 72 have been on the turf. Of the 194 races run to this point in 2022, 91 were on turf. Field size is generally larger turf.

Betting interests so far this meet are 1,479 down 2.9 percent compared to 1,523 interests last year. The average field size this summer is 7.62 horses per race, compared to 7.85 a year ago.

Four weeks (21 cards) remain in the meet, starting Wednesday. The Travers Day card is slated for Aug. 26.

Irad Ortiz has won 31 races at the meet, 11 more than his nearest rivals, brother Jose Ortiz and Luis Saez. Tyler Gaffalione (15) and Flavien Prat (14) are next.

Irad Ortiz has won nine stakes, seven graded. Both Irad and Jose Ortiz will miss Wednesday through Friday this week due to careless-riding suspensions.

Linda Rice and Chad Brown are tied atop the trainer standings with 18 wins apiece. Todd Pletcher (13), Bill Mott (9), and Rudy Rodriguez (7) are in the top five.

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