Saratoga handle remains strong

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Ontrack handle is up nearly 10 percent while all-sources handle is basically even through the first 28 days of the 2011 Saratoga meet when compared with the same five weeks of 2010, according to figures released Monday by the New York Racing Association.

Ontrack handle was $85,582,029, a daily average of $3,056,501 and up 9.9 percent from the $77,862,507 wagered last year. All-sources handle, which includes wagers on Saratoga both ontrack, at Aqueduct and Belmont, and from simulcast outlets nationwide, was $365,549,443, averaging $13,055,337 daily and off just 0.2 percent from $366,178,939 in 2010.

There have been 280 races run thus far at this year's meet with 2,301 betting interests as compared with 271 races with 2,271 betting interests over the same period last year.

Attendance at this year's meet is 632,600 a 3.7-percent increase from last year.

After a dark day Tuesday, racing resumes Wednesday with a 10-race program.