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On-track handle increases during Belmont meet On-track handle increased 1.5 percent at the recently concluded 58-day Belmont Park Spring/Summer Meet, despite the loss of one racing day. On-track handle for races conducted at Belmont totaled $69,722,257 for a daily average of $1,202,108, up from $68,718,518 for a daily average of $1,164,721 in 2007. Total all-sources handle for the meet, which includes money bet on Belmont races from simulcast outlets, was $662,605,734, a 2.2 percent decrease from the $677,495,619 wagered in 2007. Daily all-sources average was $11,424,237 as compared to $11,482,977 in 2007. Wagering on the June 7 Belmont Stakes Day 13-race card, which included five other graded stakes, was the second highest on-track in history. On-track wagering on Belmont Stakes Day soared 49.9 percent to $13,256,019 from $8,843,720 in 2007. Total all-sources handle on Belmont Stakes Day races jumped 32.6 percent, from $75,686,429 in 2007 to $100,378,472. Total attendance for the Belmont meet was up 2.9 percent, increasing from 380,531 (daily average of 6,450) in 2007 to 391,634 (daily average of 6,752). Attendance figures were assisted by a crowd of 94,476 for Belmont Stakes Day, compared to 46,870 in 2007. "Despite a downturn in the economy and softness in the Thoroughbred racing industry, we're pleased with the modest increase of the Belmont Park Spring/Summer meeting," NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward said. "Clearly a big driver of the numbers was Big Brown's Belmont Stakes Triple Crown attempt, but this was somewhat offset by the loss of a racing day."
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