NYRA/Coglianese Photo

Opening Day of 2020 spring/summer meet at Belmont Park marks return of pro sports in New York with record-breaking handle

by Keith McCalmont

Opening Day of the 2020 Belmont Park spring/summer meet generated all-sources handle of $10,972,254, breaking the previous Opening Day record of $10.7 million set in 2010.

The nine-race Belmont Park spring/summer meet Opening Day card held April 26, 2019 generated all-sources handle of $5,409,231.

Wednesday's 10-race card, which marked the return of professional sports in New York, was highlighted by Rushing Fall's victory in a stellar edition of the Grade 3, $100,000 Beaugay.

"We are proud to be able to usher in the return of professional sports to New York right here at Belmont Park," said NYRA President & CEO Dave O'Rourke. "I would like to thank racing fans for tuning in and supporting live racing. Opening Day brought us a number of touching and exciting moments and we look forward to many more great days of racing ahead."

The 2020 spring/summer meet, which will be conducted without spectators and with strict health and safety protocols in place, continues through Sunday, July 12. Following the five-day opening week, live racing will be offered Thursday through Sunday with a first post of 1:15 p.m. The 25-day meet will feature 22 graded stakes and 40 stakes races in total worth $7 million in purses.

The 152nd renewal of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes will take place on Saturday, June 20, as the first leg of the Triple Crown series, a historic first for the crown jewel of thoroughbred racing. Traditionally run at 1 1/2-miles, this year's edition of the Belmont Stakes will be contested at nine furlongs and broadcast live on NBC, the exclusive broadcast partner of the Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown.

National and regional television coverage will air every live race day on America's Day at The Races on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. Additional information and the current broadcast schedule can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official online wagering site of the 2020 Belmont Park spring/summer meet. Available to customers across the United States, NYRA Bets allows horseplayers to watch and wager on racing from tracks around the world at any time. The NYRA Bets app is available for download for iOS and Android at NYRABets.com.

To help welcome back live racing, NYRA Bets is offering a five-percent rebate on wagers placed on races at Belmont Park during Opening Week. The five percent rebate is available exclusively to NYRA Bets members. With the exception of show bets, the five percent rebate is available on all wagers placed on races conducted at Belmont Park from June 3 - June 7.

About NYRA Bets

Introduced in August 2016, NYRA Bets is a leading online wagering platform, available nationwide online, on your phone and at kiosks at NYRA tracks. As a legal, United States-based, regulated and licensed provider of horse race wagering, NYRA Bets gives fans the opportunity to wager on more than 250 race tracks worldwide from anywhere at any time. You can download the NYRA Bets app for iOS and Android.

For more information, visit www.nyrabets.com.