Belmont Spring/Summer Meet Closes With Increased Handle
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
The Met Mile field races down the Belmont Park stretch
The Belmont Park spring/summer meet generated $15,466,198 in average daily handle from all sources, a 42% increase over the 2019 spring/summer meet, the New York Racing Association announced July 13 following the meet's finale a day earlier.
Abbreviated to 25 days and held without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the June 3 opening of the spring/summer meet marked the return of professional sports in New York and was conducted with strict health and safety protocols in place.
"We would like to thank the horseplayers for their enthusiastic support of New York racing during this most unusual spring/summer meet," said NYRA president and CEO Dave O'Rourke. "That we were able to resume racing on June 3, and usher in the return of professional sports in New York, reflects the dedication and professionalism of the racing community during these uncertain and challenging times."
Despite running 23 fewer days than in 2019, a 48% decrease, all sources handle during the spring/summer meet totaled $386,654,955.
Average field size over the 248 races carded was 8.61, a 23% increase over 2019. Five races were taken off the turf due to weather, all on July 10 with the impact of Tropical Storm Fay.
The June 20 Belmont Stakes Day card, which featured 12 races and six graded stakes, highlighted by Tiz the Law's victory in the 152nd running of the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), generated all sources handle of $67,753,336.
The 2019 spring/summer meet, which was contested across 48 live race days, generated all sources handle of $524,051,324 and average daily handle of $10,917,736. Four hundred and forty eight races were run in total with 46 races taken off the turf due to weather. Average field size was 6.98.
Chad Brown notched 23 wins to finish as the leading trainer at the 2020 Belmont spring/summer meet for the fifth consecutive time and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. posted 34 victories to lead all riders as the meet concluded Sunday.
Klaravich Stables led all owners with 13 wins, outpacing second-place finisher Michael Dubb, who had seven victories.
The 2020 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course will begin July 16 and run through Labor Day, Sept. 7. Following the four-day opening weekend, live racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays.
Under current New York State guidelines, Saratoga Race Course will open without spectators in attendance. The 40-day meet will be highlighted by the 151st renewal of the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 8 and the Whitney Stakes (G1) Aug. 1.