All-Sources Handle Up Year-Over-Year Friday at Aqueduct

All-sources handle rose sharply Friday at Aqueduct compared to the second Friday in March last year as the track held races without spectators due to the Coronavirus pandemic. A total of $4,614,051 was bet on a nine-race card, compared to $3,585,745 on Friday, Mar. 8, which was also a nine-race card.

“The health and safety of employees, fans, horsemen and the backstretch community is paramount,” said NYRA's Patrick McKenna in a statement sent to TDN Friday evening. “In addition to closing Aqueduct to all fans, we have taken additional steps consistent with CDC and New York Department of Health guidelines to ensure the safety of our employees and racing participants. With these adjustments now in place, NYRA is confident that we can continue to conduct live racing safely and securely. We are closely monitoring all developments and are in constant contact with the New York State Gaming Commission should additional steps need to be taken.

“Thoroughbred racing in New York State is responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic impact. Racing generates jobs in nearly every county. These are good paying jobs connected to small businesses. Opening Aqueduct, and racetracks across the country, supports horsemen and their businesses, racetrack employees and the backstretch community. The uncertainty we are facing as a country right now is without precedent and its effect on the economy is surely to be immense.

“With each day that we are able to open the doors safely, NYRA and tracks around the country are reducing that economic uncertainty for an enormous number of hourly workers who otherwise would not be earning money to support their families. We owe a tremendous amount of credit to the men and women who are doing those jobs to keep us going–cleaning crews and maintenance staff especially. This is a delicate balance, and right now we are proud to be able to find the right balance to have a positive economic impact in New York. And, on a completely different level, it's nice to be able to provide New Yorkers with some small distraction that reminds us of normalcy.”