While all-sources wagering increased 7.6% during the first three weeks of the annual boutique meet at Saratoga Race Course, the upstate New York track reported attendance had dipped by 1.9% through Aug. 6.
According to the New York Racing Association, wagers on Saratoga races both on-track and from simulcast outlets nationwide, totaled $233,380,247 for the first 16 days of the meet, compared with $216,977,479 through the same period last year.
On-track handle totaled $48,208,874, up 0.7% from $47,896,094 last year. Wagering downstate at Belmont Café and the Aqueduct simulcast center totaled $8,849,611 for a combined on-track handle of $57,058,485, up 2.2% from $55,835,011 in 2011.
Attendance for the first three weeks of the meet was 319,806, down slightly from the 325,909 figure in 2011.
Average betting interests per race of 8.5 (1,411 total) represented a decrease from the 8.6 average (1,372 total) in 2011. There have been 73 turf races and 13 races taken off the turf and moved to the main track, compared to 65 on and 12 off in 2011 through 16 days.
