With significantly more races run, and staying on the turf, the New York Racing Association's fall meet at Aqueduct racetrack saw a sharp rise in all-sources handle to $205,249,710. Handle was up 49% compared to 2018's figure of $137,213,915, but so were the number of races held, with 86 grass races and 233 total races run through the end of 25-day meet Dec. 8, compared to 31 turf races and 198 total races run over 22 days in 2018. On-track handle this meet was $20,712,645 vs. $16,168,219 last year. Average daily handle was up 31.6% ($205,249,710 vs. $137,213,915), while handle per betting interest was up 8.7% ($104,880 vs. $96,494). Betting handle for the meet's biggest day, the GI Cigar Mile H. card held last Saturday, was up 45% from 2018, in part due to a mandatory payout of the Empire 6, which was introduced by NYRA in August.
Chad Brown was leading trainer with 17 victories to lead all conditioners for the fourth consecutive NYRA meet. Irad Ortiz, Jr.'s 29 wins earned him the riding title, while Klaravich Stables and Drawing Away Stable tied for leading owner. The 2019-20 Aqueduct winter meet begins Dec. 12.
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