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Wagering At Aqueduct Spring Meet Shows 11.5 Percent Increase In Daily Average

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced Tuesday that the boutique 11-day Aqueduct spring meet generated all-sources handle of $85,419,050, a 2.2 percent increase over the 2019 Aqueduct spring meet.

Average daily handle over the 11 days of live racing was $7,765,368, an 11.5 percent increase over 2019, when average daily handle over the 12 days of live racing was $6,964,947.

The 2020 spring meet at Aqueduct Racetrack was canceled in its entirety due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In accordance with New York State guidelines instituted to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the 2021 Aqueduct spring meet was conducted without spectators and with only a limited number of owners and essential employees in attendance.

On-track handle, which includes wagering from New York residents utilizing NYRA Bets, was $5,734,531 compared to $9,987,247 in 2019.

The Belmont Park spring/summer meet, which features 59 total stakes races worth $16.95 million in total purses, will open on Thursday, April 22 and continue through Sunday, July 11.

For additional information, and the complete Belmont Park spring/summer stakes schedule, please visit NYRA.com.

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Economic Indicators: Average Daily Wagering Sees Slight Decline In March

Equibase, LLC released its third monthly report of 2021 on Economic Indicators in Thoroughbred Racing on Monday, April 5. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Equibase has been providing monthly economic indicators advisories. The Advisory is typically disseminated on a quarterly basis to provide key metrics used to measure racing's performance throughout the year.

With the return of March Madness in 2021, the competition for a wagering dollar increased dramatically over the same period in 2020, when the tournaments were cancelled due to the pandemic. Accordingly, the average daily wagering in March of 2021 showed a 3.25 percent decline over the same month in 2020, when there was almost no competition outside the racing industry.

However, increased race days in March of 2021 (292, compared to 214 in 2020) meant that the overall wagering totals showed a 32 percent increase to $965 million.

Year-to-date wagering remains up 10.27 percent over the first quarter of 2020, while average wagering for the first three months of 2021 remains strong at 14.15 percent higher than the same period last year.

Moving forward, the continued return of fans to the racetracks could play a major role in handle, as those fans will shift from primarily ADW wagering to in-person.

March 2021 vs. March 2020
Indicator	March 2021	March 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$965,796,545	$731,609,777	+32.01%
U.S. Purses	$81,797,768	$55,774,436	+46.66%
U.S. Race Days	292	214	+36.45%
U.S. Races	2,563	1,787	+43.42%
U.S. Starts	19,452	13,919	+39.75%
Average Field Size	7.59	7.79	-2.56%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,307,522	$3,418,737	-3.25%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$280,129	$260,628	+7.48%

1st QTR 2021 vs. 1st QTR 2020
Indicator	1st QTR 2021	1st QTR 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$2,766,096,277	$2,508,529,406	+10.27%
U.S. Purses	$214,998,406	$205,227,651	+4.76%
U.S. Race Days	766	793	-3.40%
U.S. Races	6,702	6,616	+1.30%
U.S. Starts	52,211	51,973	+0.46%
Average Field Size	7.79	7.86	-0.83%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,611,092	$3,163,341	+14.15%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$280,677	$258,799	+8.45%

* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.

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Turfway’s Winter Handle Up 36 Percent; Corrales, Ward Wrap Up Meet Titles

A stout 36.5 percent increase of all sources handle, along with a rise in starters per race, topped Turfway Park's 38-day Winter/Spring meet that opened Jan 1. and concluded Saturday.

Turfway Park's meet saw overall handle grow to $81.7 million, a $21.9 million increase from 2020. All sources handle per day was up 32.9 percent. The average field size topped 9.8 horses per race compared to 2020's 9.7 starters per race.

“We can't thank our owners, trainers, jockeys and horseplayers enough for supporting our meet,” Turfway Park's General Manager Chip Bach said. “Our team put together a competitive racing product that appealed to horseplayers nationwide. The positive feedback from the installation of our Tapeta surface was universal from trainers and jockeys. Through Churchill Downs Incorporated's continued investment to renovate Turfway Park, we are looking forward to the future of horse racing in Florence.”

Six live racing days were cancelled due to inclement weather at Turfway Park. However, five of those days were made up by adding an additional race day each week.

Jockey Gerardo Corrales (177-40-27-23—$655,831) had a 23 percent win clip during the meet and led all riders. He finished seven victories ahead of second place Rafael Bejarano, who had 33 wins. A graduate of the Laffit Pincay Jockey School, Corrales' meet was capped by a victory aboard Outadore in the $65,000 Animal Kingdom Stakes on the undercard of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3).

Trainer Wesley Ward's victory with Like the King in the $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) were among his 21 wins at the meet. He had an outstanding 38 percent win clip with purse earnings of $410,997. Ward topped the trainer standings, 21-12, nine wins in front of Bill Morey, who relocated to Kentucky in 2019 from California.

“Kentucky is the epicenter for sales and racing,” Morey said. “We had a fantastic meet at Turfway and really enjoyed running over the Tapeta surface.”

Augustin Stable led the owner standings with eight wins through 20 starts. All eight victories were ridden by jockey Chris Landeros. They finished two wins in front of Small Town Paddock, who recorded six wins through nine starts. They were one win in front of Live Oak Plantation's five wins from eight starters.

A trio of horses recorded three wins at the meet: Richard Alderson's Till Then, who won two of his races under former owner Augustin Stable and Small Town Paddock's Floroplus and Kynance (IRE).

Like the King Stamps Ticket to Kentucky Derby with Victory in Jeff Ruby Steaks

M Racing Group's Like the King stamped his spot in the starting gate for the Grade 1, $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve with his victory in the 50th running of the $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks, the premiere race of Turfway Park's meet.

Trained by Ward, Like the King earned 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby for his one-length win in the Jeff Ruby Steaks. Jeff Ruby Steaks day also featured a victory by Godolphin's Adventuring in the $150,000 Bourbonette Oaks (Listed). She was awarded 50 points towards a spot in the April 30, $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Racing in the Commonwealth of Kentucky will shift to Keeneland on Friday for their Spring Meet, which runs through April 23. Kentucky Derby Week at Churchill Downs will begin April 24 and their Spring Meet will run through June 26.

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Aqueduct Winter Meet’s Average Handle Up 16 Percent, Sees Total Wagering Of Nearly $350 Million

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that the 2021 Aqueduct winter meet, which ran from Dec. 10, 2020 through March 28, 2021, generated all-sources handle of $349,962,356 a 4.3 percent increase over the 2018-19 winter meet.

(The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the 2019-20 Aqueduct winter meet, forcing the cancellation of live racing from March 20-29. In addition, the 2020 Aqueduct spring meet was cancelled in its entirety due to the pandemic. Live racing on the NYRA circuit resumed at Belmont Park on June 3, 2020.)

Originally scheduled for 56 days of live racing, adverse weather conditions forced the cancellation of four cards during the 2021 winter meet. NYRA subsequently added two live race days to account for the cancellations, resulting in a 54-day meet.

Average daily handle over the 54 days of live racing was $6,480,784, a 15.9 percent increase over 2018-19, when the meet was contested over 60 days of live racing.

In accordance with New York State guidelines instituted to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the 2020-21 winter meet was conducted without spectators and with only a limited number of owners and essential employees in attendance.

On-track handle, which includes wagering from New York residents utilizing NYRA Bets, was $24,891,692.

In January, the first floor of Aqueduct became a New York State vaccination center, where more than 100,000 doses have been distributed to New Yorkers to date.

The 11-day Aqueduct spring meet begins on Thursday, April 1, and continues through Sunday, April 18. The spring meet is highlighted by the 96th running of the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino on Saturday, April 3.

The Wood Memorial will air on NBSCN as part of a live national broadcast beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET and scheduled to include the Grade 2, $800,000 Toyota Blue Grass from Keeneland and the Grade 1, $750,000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park.

Prior to the NBCSN broadcast, national television coverage of the Wood Memorial Day card from Aqueduct can be found on FS2 beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

For additional information, and the complete Aqueduct spring stakes schedule, please visit NYRA.com.

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