Attendance is up 13.5 percent, on-track handle up 5 percent, and all-sources
handle fractionally up 1.1 percent from 2008 totals through the first week of
the 2009 Saratoga meet.
Attendance for the first six days of the 2009 meet was 142,519 up from
125,617, for a daily average of 23,753 compared to 20,936 in 2008. On-track
handle at Saratoga was $19,352,139, up from $18,429,950 in 2008, for a daily
average of $3,225,357 compared to $3,071,658 in 2008. All-sources handle was
$87,526,636, up from $86,547,128 in 2008, for a daily average of $14,587,773
compared to $14,424,521 in 2008.
The solid first week totals were accented by Saturday’s 11-race card
featuring the Diana S. (G1) and Jim Dandy S. (G2), when $5,284,874 was wagered
on-track by a throng of 33,954 — one of the largest non-Travers
(G1)/non-giveaway crowds in Saratoga history.
Total betting interests increased 9.2 percent (523 vs. 479) despite an
identical number of races run each year (60, which includes one steeplechase).
Turf races totaled 21, with 10 taken off the turf, compared to 11 on and 13 off
during the soggy start to the 2008 meet.
“The 2009 Saratoga meet is off to a very promising start both at the windows
and on the track,” NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward said. “Despite erratic
weather which affects people’s plans, and moving the Whitney H. (G1) to the
second Saturday of the meet, attendance jumped substantially, while on-track
handle and all-sources handle both increased, significantly ahead of all industry
trends. Week 2, anchored by the the Whitney H., Test S. (G1), Alfred G.
Vanderbilt H. (G2) and the Honorable Miss H. (G3), should continue the momentum
established during the first week.”