Wood Memorial Day handle declines

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Total all-sources handle on Saturday’s 12-race Wood Memorial program at Aqueduct was $15,841,220, down 12.5 percent from the 2014 figure of $18,117,037. Ontrack handle Saturday was $2,469,614, down 9.2 percent from last year’s figure of $2,718,962.

Reported attendance Saturday was 11,213, down 11.8 percent from last year’s figure of 12,719.

Saturday’s card had 12 races with 94 betting interests. Last year’s Wood card also had 12 races, with 99 betting interests. The all-stakes pick four Saturday handled $608,015, down 35 percent from last year’s handle of $928,877.

NYRA’s business could have been impacted by Keeneland moving its premier spring race, the Grade 1 Blue Grass, up a week from last year to coincide with the Wood and Santa Anita Derby.