Belmont Average Handle, Attendance Declined
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Average daily handle and attendance declined during the 59-day meet at Belmont Park that was highlighted by American Pharoah becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
According to New York Racing Association figures released July 27, all-sources handle on NYRA races was $636,621,791 this year, up 7.5% from the $591,988,056 figure for the 54-day meet in 2014. With five additional racing days this year, average daily handle fell from $10,962,742 last year to $10,790,200 this year.
On-track handle on NYRA races, which includes NYRA Rewards account wagering and simulcast action from Aqueduct Racetrack on Belmont races, of $88,293,037 represented a 4.3% gain over the $84,626,885 wagered last year.
Attendance at Belmont Park this spring totaled 286,432, for a daily average 4,855, compared with a 302,512 total and average of 5,602 in 2014. For the first time, NYRA capped the attendance at 90,000 for the June 6 historic victory by American Pharoah in the Belmont Stakes Presented by DraftKings (gr. I); last year, 102,199 were on hand to witness California Chrome's failed attempt at the Triple Crown.
This year's Belmont Stakes Day produced the second-highest on-track and all-sources handle in NYRA history, with an on-track handle of $16,950,758 and an all-sources handle of $135,790,321. Last year, on-track and all-sources handle of $19,200,102 and $151,109,373, respectively, set new records.
There were 553 races run in 2015, compared with 509 in 2014. According to The Jockey Club Information Systems, total purses this year of $46,052,090 represented a gain over the $43,083,180 total of a year ago.
Average field size was up slightly in 2015 to 7.67, compared with an average 7.52 last year, according to TJIS.