The 31-day Belmont Park fall meet concluded with the oval's average daily handle totaling $10,346,669 from all sources and $320,746,749-a 19.7% increase from 2019–in total handle from all sources. Average daily handle at the Belmont fall meet increased over 2019, when the 37-day fall meet generated $7,430,533 in average daily handle from all sources. 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 rose 39% since 2019.
Originally scheduled for 28 days of live racing, NYRA extended the 2021 Belmont fall meet to include three additional dates from Friday, Nov. 5 through Sunday, Nov. 7.
With the return of fans and the easing of COVID-19 protocols, on-track handle was $30,463,824, a 54% increase over 2020, when only a limited number of owners were permitted in attendance. On-track handle in 2019, which was contested over 37 days, was $32,523,57.
A total of 143 races were run on the turf in 2021 with 16 forced off the turf due to weather. The 2020 Belmont fall meet staged 118 races on the turf with 24 races forced off the turf.
Average field size for the 299 total races run during the fall meet was 8.03, a 1.9% increase over last year.
Highlighted by the GI Cigar Mile H. Dec. 4, the 15-day Aqueduct fall meet begins Thursday and continues through Sunday, Dec. 5.
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