So Far It’s a Very Good Year for Some Racetracks
Tuesday, September 19th, 2006 (Greg Melikov)

Frank Sinatra’s hit song 40 years ago describes what the first nine months of 2006 have been at some major racetracks across the country: It Was a Very Good Year -- at least, so far.

Surprisingly, business has been brisk. For instance,  Saratoga concluded season No. 138 on Labor Day with the nation’s top averages in daily attendance, purses, on-track wagering and all-sources wagering.

“It was a very successful season in every category,” boasted Charlie Hayward, New York Racing Association (NYRA) president/CEO.

While on-track wagering was down less than 1 percent averaging $3.23 million per day, the total daily average handle during the 36-day meeting increased 4.9 percent to  $15.68 million.

For the second time in history, purse distribution topped  $23 million, averaging $676,437 to set a record for all tracks in North America.

There was at least one stakes race on every live racing card and two on eight days. Of the 47 stakes, 32 were graded events while 15 were Grade 1 races.

Aqueduct didn’t do bad either, posting increases in average on-track handle, total handle and purses during the 81-day winter/spring meeting.

Despite 23 fewer races than last year, primarily because of partial-card cancellations, the New York track averaged more than $8.5 million a day in total handle and the average purse was worth nearly $52,000.

While Belmont Park’s overall handle for this year’s 59-day   spring/summer meeting declined 1.5 percent, the on-track handle rose 1 percent to a daily average of $1,585,901. When you include all simulcast races, the handle increased 2.7 percent to $2,051,951.

According to the NYRA, business remains positive for the year with the fall/winter meetings to go. On-track handle that factors in simulcasts is up 6.3 percent to a daily average of $1,850,920. In addition, total is up 2 percent to an average of $9,738,011.

While the only negative at most U.S. tracks continues to be declining attendance, Santa Anita Park posted its largest gain since the end of World War II. Average on-track attendance for the 86-day winter/spring meeting was 9,341, a whopping 15.1 percent increase over last year’s 8,113.

Daily on-track handle was up 11 percent to $2,245,531, the highest average since 2001. 

On-track handle combined with nationwide simulcasting and betting at southern and northern California off-track locations showed a rise of 9.3 percent to $11.6 million wagered daily on racing from Santa Anita.

Business did slump a bit at Del Mar in ’06, but we must keep in mind total handle set records the previous four consecutive years. While down 4.3 percent to $582,604,451 for the 43-day meeting, total handle still was the second highest in the track’s 67-year history.  

Newly refurbished Gulfstream Park saw business during the 86-day meeting that ended April 23 climb significantly. Total on-track handle, which included live racing and imports, jumped 14 percent to $122.8, averaging $1.4 million a day.

At Churchill Downs, which will host the 23rd Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships on Nov. 4, total wagering during its 57-day spring meeting exceeded $600 million for the first time in its 132-year history.

Total handle soared 11.4 percent to $652.3 million, averaging $11.4 million daily. On-track wagering was up 4 percent to $99.8 million. The off-track handle climbed 12.9 percent to $552.5 million.

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