NYRA posts all-sources 2018 handle of more than $2.1 billion

by NYRA Press Office

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that its 2018 race meets conducted at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course generated all-sources handle of $2,113,408,494.

With 10 full race days and three partial cards cancelled due to weather, and 193 races taken off the turf, average daily handle over the 219 days of racing in 2018 was $9,650,267.

By comparison, 2017 saw just 98 races taken off the turf over 225 days of live racing, leading to all-sources handle of $2,191,731,339.

2018 featured 2,038 races at NYRA tracks, or 52 fewer than in 2017.

The June 9 Belmont Stakes Day card, highlighted by Justify's Triple Crown triumph, generated all-sources handle of $137,954,895, marking the second-highest one-day handle in NYRA history behind only Belmont Stakes Day in 2014.

All-sources handle for the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival was $168,975,295.

The 2018 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course generated all-sources handle of $659,083,459, the second highest handle in Saratoga history despite a meet that was inundated with more than 10 inches of rain which forced 50 races to be taken off the turf.

The 2018 season at Saratoga also witnessed the largest all-sources handle in both Travers Day and Woodward Day history, and the second largest wagering ever on Opening Day.

The 2018 fall meet at Aqueduct, contested from November 2 through December 2, generated all-sources handle of $137,213,915.

Total live on-track handle (excluding imports) for 2018 was $326,893,963.