Saratoga opener sees higher attendance, handle

Attendance, on-track handle, and total handle all posted gains over 2011

totals on opening day of the 144th meeting at Saratoga.

Friday's attendance of 25,676 was up 2.1 percent from 25,155 in 2011.

On-track handle for the 10-race Saratoga card totaled $4,075,817, up 14.8

percent from $3,551,745 on opening day 2011.

Wagering downstate at the Belmont Café and Aqueduct simulcast center was

$459,648, for a combined on-track handle of $4,535,465, up 14.6 percent from

$3,959,128 last year.

All-sources handle, which includes wagers on Saratoga races both on-track and

from simulcast outlets nationwide, was $16,690,234, up 5.2 percent from

$15,871,449 in 2011.

"Our fans on track and across the country responded to a great day of

racing," NYRA President and COO Ellen McClain said. "We appreciate their

patience with opening day complications such as sporadic shutdowns of the new

wireless internet service, television and public address system issues, and a

drop in water pressure at approximately 3 p.m. (EDT). We will be working through

the night to resolve all of these matters."

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