NYRA Handle Down Marginally in 2019

The New York Racing Association announced Jan. 3 that its 2019 race meets conducted at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course generated all-sources handle of $2,108,126,369, a small drop from last year's total of $2,113,408,494.

For the first time in history, NYRA generated more than $700 million in all-sources handle during the Saratoga meet, which was conducted over a five-day race week. 

Wagering from all-sources at Saratoga totaled $705,343,949, which eclipsed the previous record set in 2017 by nearly $29 million, or 4.2%. The record was achieved despite the cancellation of a full racing card on the second Saturday of the season because of extreme heat, in addition to the cancellation of the final seven races July 25 due to severe storms.

Inclement weather forced the full cancellation of seven race days and partial cancellation of six cards during the year. As a result, there were 217 race days in 2019 at NYRA tracks, with average daily handle of $9,714,868.

Total all-sources handle in 2018 was $2,113,408,494, with average daily handle over the 219 days of live racing of $9,650,267.

2019 featured 2,000 races at NYRA tracks—38 fewer than the 2018 total. There were 125 races taken off the turf in 2019, compared with 193 in 2018.

The June 8 Belmont Stakes Day card—highlighted by Sir Winston's victory in the 151st running of the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1)—generated all-sources handle of $102,163,280, a NYRA record for a non-Triple Crown year.

All-sources handle for the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival was $131,858,886.

In total, the 48-day Belmont Park spring/summer meet generated all-sources handle of $524,051,257, with on-track handle of $62,499,109. Average daily handle during the spring/summer meet was $10,917,735.

The 2019 Belmont Park fall meet generated all-sources handle of $274,929,718. Average daily handle over the 37 days of live racing was $7,430,533, with on-track handle totaling $32,523,572.

The 25-day 2019 fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack generated all-sources handle of $205,249,710 and on-track handle of $20,712,645. Average daily handle was $8,209,988.

Total on-track handle across all NYRA meets in 2019 was $310,053,754, a 5.2% decrease from the 2018 total of $326,893,963.