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Handle up on Belmont Day The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) has reported that a crowd of 55,779 wagered $10,098,573 on Saturday's Belmont Stakes Day races, a 32.9 percent increase over $7,598,840 in 2010. An additional $1,465,484 was wagered on incoming simulcasts, bringing the total on-track handle to $11,564,057 compared to $8,229,318 in 2010, a 40.5 percent increase. Attendance was up 23.3 percent from 45,243 on Belmont Stakes Day 2010. (An additional 2,350 attended Aqueduct Racetrack which is now open year-round, seven days a week for simulcasting). All-sources handle, which includes all wagering on Belmont Stakes Day races nationwide, was $81,245,326, an 8.9 percent increase over last year's all-sources total of $74,613,144. Saturday's late Pick 4 pool of $2,352,456 was up 16 percent from last year's pool of $2,026,444 and broke the previous Belmont Stakes Day Pick 4 pool record of $2,243,068 set in 2009. The Pick 6 pool was $1,921,917 (which included a carryover of $144,003), a 22 percent increase over last year's pool of $1,572,462 (which included a $129,962 carryover), breaking the previous Belmont Stakes Day Pick 6 pool record of $1,869,152 set in 2008. Betting interests for the 13-race Belmont Stakes Day card totaled 125, compared to 117 in 2010 and 120 in 2009. "We anticipated a sensational renewal of the Belmont Stakes with the (Kentucky) Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1) winners along with the top seven Derby finishers," NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward said, "and today's race once again proved itself as the 'Test of the Champion' with Ruler on Ice prevailing in a gritty stretch battle with Stay Thirsty. "Despite the inclement weather, Director of Racing Surfaces Glen Kozak had the dirt track and turf courses in prime shape for an excellent card topped by four Grade 1 races, put together by Vice President and Director of Racing P.J. Campo. NYRA thanks all of our racing participants and our customers on track and around the country for their participation in making this an outstanding day for Thoroughbred racing in New York."
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