Average Daily Handle at Belmont Rises at $10.3 Million

The New York Racing Association announced Nov. 10 that the recently concluded 31-day Belmont Park fall meet generated $10,346,669 in average daily handle from all sources and $320,746,749 in total handle from all sources. 

Average daily handle at the Belmont fall meet has grown considerably since 2019 when the 37-day fall meet averaged $7,430,533 daily. The 2020 Belmont fall meet, which was contested over 27 live race days, generated $9,923,813 in average daily handle from all sources, a 33.6% increase over 2019. 

With this year's 4.3% increase over 2020, average daily handle for the Belmont Park fall meet has risen 39% since 2019. 

The total all-sources handle of $320,746,749 represents a 19.7% increase over the 2020 Belmont Park fall meet, which saw total all-sources handle of $267,942,961.

Originally scheduled for 28 days of live racing, NYRA extended the 2021 Belmont fall meet to include three additional dates from Nov. 5-7. As a result, the fall meet was contested over 31 days.

On-track handle this year was $30,463,824, with the daily average exceeding the corresponding pre-pandemic figure from the 2019 fall meeting.

Increased turf racing and fewer races moved to the main track due to inclement weather contributed to the average field size rising to 8.03 horses per race, a 1.9% increase over 2020. 

Racing now shifts to Aqueduct Racetrack on the NYRA circuit, beginning Nov. 11.