Opening Day Attendance and Handle Up at Saratoga

Saratoga Springs, – On-track and all-sources handle soared over 2008 totals as Saratoga Race Course opened its 141st season of thoroughbred racing in warm, muggy conditions with intermittent showers after the sixth race.

Attendance of 25,444 was up 40.4 percent over 2008 when 18,127 braved a steady downpour.

On-track handle totaled $3,651,222, a 29.8 percent increase over $2,813,982 in 2008.  All-sources handle, which includes money bet on Saratoga races from simulcast outlets nationwide, was $14,216,133, 24.4 percent up from $11,431,846 in 2008.

“Opening Day was an unqualified success,” said NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward. “On-track handle increase of almost 30 percent and all-sources increase of 24.4 percent over 2008 figures indicates the strength of our racing product and the benefit of some decent weather. The crowd of 25,444 confirms the resiliency of Saratoga Opening Day in challenging times.”

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