Records were broken in both on-track and total handle at
Saratoga Race Course on Saturday afternoon, with the 144th running of the Grade
1, $1 million Travers as the centerpiece of a stellar 14-race card that included
three other graded stakes.
On a beautiful, sunny afternoon, 47,597 fans — the largest Travers crowd since 48,894 saw Marylou Whitney’s Birdstone win in 2004 — turned
out to watch Will Take Charge nose out Moreno at the wire to capture the
“Mid-Summer Derby” in thrilling finish.
They wagered a record $9,672,249 on the card, an 11 percent
increase over last year’s $8,741,773 record.
All-sources handle on Saratoga’s Travers-day races was up
13 percent, year over year, to $41,363,760. Last year’s tally of $36,597,173 was
eclipsed after Saturday’s 12TH race.
Downstate wagering also posted significant increases, with
$612,864 wagered at the Belmont Café, up 13 percent, year over year, and
$695,266 wagered at Aqueduct, an increase of 7 percent.
The pool for the guaranteed $1 million Pick 4 topped $2
million for the first time, with $2,016,700 wagered.
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