Belmont's Stars & Stripes Racing Festival generates record handle
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Saturday's 11-race Stars & Stripes Racing Festival card, highlighted by an upset victory by Henley's Joy in the 70th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational, generated all-sources handle of $25,766,176, the highest handle figure since the New York Racing Association launched the Stars & Stripes Racing Festival in 2014.
One of five graded stakes on the Stars & Stripes Racing Festival program, the Belmont Derby opened the Turf Trinity in NYRA's new Turf Triple series, which offers $5.25 million in purse money for sophomores over three legs at Belmont and Saratoga Race Course.
In the $750,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1), Concrete Rose posted a 2 3/4-length win in capturing the first leg of the new Turf Tiara in the Turf Triple Series.
In addition to the Belmont Derby and Belmont Oaks, Saturday's card included the $700,000 Suburban (G2), the $300,000 John A. Nerud (G2), formerly the Belmont Sprint Championship, and the $250,000 Dwyer (G3).
With a paid attendance of 15,937, Saturday's on-track handle was $2,720,632.
Stars & Stripes Racing Festival Handle History
(2014-2019)
2014
Saturday, July 5
Races: 10
All-sources: $18,829,264
On-track: $2,825,797
2015
Saturday, July 4
Races: 11
All-sources: $20,652,065
On-track: $2,779,529
2016
Saturday, July 9
Races: 11
All-sources: $22,980,094
On-track: $2,898,826
2017
Saturday, July 8
Races: 11
All-sources: $22,341,423
On-track: $3,084,823
2018
Saturday, July 7
Races: 11
All-sources: $24,612,465
On-track: $3,182,22
2019
Saturday, July 6
Races: 11
All-sources: $25,766,176
On-track: $2,720,632
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