Belmont daily handle up 42 percent for Spring/Summer meet
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The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) today announced that the Belmont Park Spring/Summer meet generated $15,466,198 in average daily handle from all sources, a 42 percent increase from the 2019 Spring/Summer meet.
Abbreviated to 25 days and held without spectators in attendance because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the opening of the Spring/Summer meet on Wednesday, June 3, marked the return of professional sports in New York and was conducted with strict health and safety protocols in place.
"We would like to thank the horseplayers for their enthusiastic support of New York racing during this most unusual Spring/Summer meet," said NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke. "That we were able to resume racing on June 3, and usher in the return of professional sports in New York, reflects the dedication and professionalism of the racing community during these uncertain and challenging times."
Despite running 23 fewer days than in 2019, a 48 percent decrease, all-sources handle during the Spring/Summer meet totaled $386,654,955.
Average field size over the 248 races carded was 8.61, a 23 percent increase from 2019. Five races were taken off the turf because of weather, all on July 10 with the impact of Tropical Storm Fay.
The June 20 Belmont Stakes Day card, which featured 12 races and six graded stakes, highlighted by Tiz the Law's victory in the 152nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes, generated all-sources handle of $67,753,336.
The 2019 Spring/Summer meet, which was contested across 48 live race days, generated all-sources handle of $524,051,324 and average daily handle of $10,917,736. 448 races were run in total, with 46 races taken off the turf due to weather. Average field size was 6.98.
Chad Brown notched 23 wins to finish as the leading trainer at the 2020 Belmont Spring/Summer meet for the fifth consecutive time and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. posted 34 victories to lead all riders as the 25-day meet concluded on Sunday at Belmont Park.
Klaravich Stables led all owners with 13 wins, outpacing second-place finisher Michael Dubb, who had seven victories.
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