How was Haskell Stakes day handle impacted by changes?
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Mark Wyville/EQUI-PHOTO
With all the changes impacting Saturday's Haskell day card at Monmouth Park, how did handle fare year over year?
Obviously, track officials were in a tough spot with a heat index north of 100 degrees. The decision to cancel six races and move stakes races back to a 6 p.m. start impacted the on-track crowd, online horseplayers, bet sequences and field sizes.
So it's interesting to see how handle compares year over year. This year, total handle was just shy of $8.6 million, which is rather remarkable given the average field size of just 5.25 horses per race.
In 2018, the day handled just over $13.4 million, with Good Magic taking the 2018 Haskell over Bravazo, Lone Sailor and Core Beliefs.
Interestingly, Haskell race wagering was up 21% year over year, with one less horse. This year's race was run at 8:12 p.m. Saturday with no network TV audience compared last year's 5:49 p.m. Sunday start on NBC.
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