Average daily all-sources handle for the recently concluded 15-day Aqueduct fall meet was $10,295,293, according to a release Thursday from the New York Racing Association. That figure represents an 11.2% increase over 2020, and average daily handle at the fall meet has risen 25.4% since 2019.
The release noted that NYRA has also seen strong handle growth at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course: “Average daily handle at the Belmont fall meet has grown 39% since 2019 with the 2021 summer meet at Saratoga eclipsing $20 million in average daily handle for the first time in history.”
With three fewer days of live racing compared to last year's Aqueduct fall meet, all-sources handle was $154,429,388 vs. $166,702,976 in 2020. The 2019 fall meet was held over 25 days and generated all-sources handle of $205,249,710.
With in-person attendance more open this year than in 2020 when only a limited number of owners could attend the races amidst the pre-vaccine era of the pandemic, on-track handle was unsurprisingly up–by 35.1% to $15,268,541. The 25-day fall meet in 2021 generated $20,712,645 in on-track handle.
A total of 74 races were run on the grass a this year's meet with six taken off due to weather. There were 68 turf races and 11 events taken off the grass last season.
Average field size for the 145 races run at the meet was 8.90, up 2.6% compared to 2020 and 5.9% from 2019.
The 2021-22 Aqueduct winter meet began Thursday and continues through Sunday, Mar. 27. America's Day at the Races will feature live daily coverage on the FOX Sports networks. Click here for the broadcast schedule.
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