NYRA records gains in 2011 on-track handle

by Brisnet.com

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) saw substantial gains in on-track

handle and NYRA Rewards account wagering in 2011, helping to overcome the

closure of New York City Off-Track Betting (NYCOTB), which had accounted for

nearly 10 percent of total handle on NYRA races in 2010.

On-track wagering*, including simulcasting, increased 59 percent, with $625

million wagered in 2011 as opposed to $393 million in 2010. On-track handle

exclusively on NYRA races increased 26.7 percent ($352 million compared to $278

million). NYRA conducted 240 live racing days in 2011 as opposed to 242 in 2010.

NYRA Rewards account wagering was up 96.5 percent in 2011 ($223 million, up

from $113 million) with internet wagering up 192 percent ($88 million vs. $30

million) and phone wagering up 147 percent ($56 million vs. $23 million).

Total 2011 attendance on live racing days at Aqueduct, Belmont Park and

Saratoga was 1,809,865, an increase of 10.2 percent over the 1,642,648 people

that attended NYRA races in 2010.

All-sources handle, including simulcasting, was up marginally in 2011 ($2.233

billion vs. $2.230 billion), while all-sources handle just on NYRA races dropped

7.3 percent ($1.960 billion vs. $2.114 billion).

NYRA's 2011 wagering numbers reveal the impact of the closure of NYCOTB on

December 8, 2010. NYCOTB accounted for $208 million of handle on NYRA races in

2010, 9.85 percent of the total handle wagered on NYRA in 2010.

Below are the exact totals and daily averages for 2011 as compared to last

year:

Racing Days

2011	2010
240	242

Attendance

		2011		2010		% change
Total		1,809,865		1,642,648		+ 10.2
Average		7,541		6,788		+ 11.1

On-Track Handle* (including simulcast races)

		2011		2010		% change
Total		$625,306,557		$393,223,353		+ 59.0
Average		$2,605,444		$1,624,890		+ 60.3

On-Track Handle* (just NYRA races)

		2011		2010		% change
Total		$351,835,640		$277,696,682		+ 26.7
Average		$1,465,982		$1,147,507		+ 27.8

Total Handle (including simulcast races)

		2011		2010		% change
Total		$2,233,402,711		$2,229,654,459		+ 0.2
Average		$9,305,845		$9,213,448		+ 1.0

Total Handle (just NYRA races)

		2011		2010**		% change
Total		$1,959,931,791		$2,114,127,787		- 7.3
Average		$8,166,382		$8,736,065		- 6.5

NYRA Rewards

		2011		2010		% change
Total		$222,667,859		$113,318,420		+ 96.5
Phone		$56,174,574		$22,719,706		+ 147.3
Internet		$87,767,520		$30,056,643		+ 192.0

Belmont Café Handle during Aqueduct and Saratoga meets

Total		$46,017,187
NYRA races		$18,917,829
Simulcast races		$27,099,358

*NYRA on-track wagering numbers include handle wagered

through NYRA Rewards account wagering and money wagered at the Belmont Café and

Aqueduct while live racing is not operating at those respective tracks.

**2010 figure includes $208,310,134 wagered from NYCOTB