Attendance and on-track handle posted huge gains at Aqueduct April 9 as Dianne Cotter’s homebred Toby’s Corner provided a stunning upset victory in the $1-million Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial (gr. I).
A crowd of 12,144 witnessed the victory by Toby’s Corner in New York. The total was an increase of 42% over last year’s crowd of 8,553 on hand to see Eskendereya’s impressive performance and a 68% increase from the 7,209 that attended the Wood in 2009.
On-track handle for Aqueduct’s races was $2,690,054, an increase of 48% over last year’s total of $1,813,360 and a 59% increase from the $1,688,226 that was wagered on-track on Aqueduct’s card in 2009.
Total all-sources handle on Aqueduct’s races was $16,566,255, up 5% over last year’s total of $15,721,375 and a 2% decrease from the $16,869,772 million wagered in 2009.
“It was a sensational day at Aqueduct highlighted by Toby’s Corner’s exciting victory in the Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial,” said New York Racing Association president and CEO Charles Hayward. “Our racing department put together a terrific card and our customers, both on and off track, responded with great enthusiasm.”