Record Belmont Day Handle for Non-Triple Crown Year
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Photo: Chad B. Harmon
The field for the Belmont Stakes breaks from the gate at Belmont Park
The blockbuster Belmont Stakes Day card June 5 at Belmont Park, highlighted by Essential Quality 's thrilling victory in the 153rd running of the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), generated all-sources handle of $112,725,278—a New York Racing Association record for a non-Triple Crown year.
The 2021 all-sources handle figure is an increase of more than 10% over the previous non-Triple Crown record of $102,163,280, set in 2019. On-track handle for the 13-race Belmont Stakes Day card, which included seven other grade 1 races among nine total stakes, was $7,532,571.
All-sources handle on the 153rd Belmont Stakes race reached $60,459,330.
All-sources handle for the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which featured 17 stakes and 33 races in total from June 3-5, was $141,984,866.
This year marked the return of the Belmont Stakes to its customary spot on the racing calendar and its traditional distance of 1 1/2 miles. In 2020, a readjustment to the stakes schedule because of the COVID-19 pandemic saw the "Test of the Champion" run without spectators in attendance and was the opening leg of the Triple Crown series for the first time in history.
In accordance with New York State guidelines in effect prior to this year's event, capacity was restricted throughout Belmont Park and general admission was not offered in 2021. As a result, paid attendance on Belmont Stakes day was 11,238.