Mixed Meet for Belmont Park

Extended periods of rain were blamed for Belmont Park's flat on-track handle and 5.9% decrease in attendance. Despite the declines, however, total handle for the 55-day meet rose 4.6% to a daily average of $11,052,075.

"In all, I think we had a solid Belmont meet," said Terry Meyocks, New York Racing Association's president and chief operating officer. "We continue to be pleased with the new levels that Belmont Stakes (gr. I) day seems to reach each year now."

On-track handle for the meet averaged $1,929,951 daily, which was essentially even with last year's average of $1,931,214. The total on-track handle was $106,147,333. Attendance for the meet dropped to a daily average of 8,025, down from 8,520 a year ago.

Belmont Day did its part to help the meet. The Long Island, N.Y., racetrack's showcase day enjoyed a record on-track handle of $10,581,093, and the total handle was only 2% short of the $74,133,188 record handle set in 1999.

"Fan and community participation continues to grow, which is a very good sign of even better times to come," Meyocks said.

He added that NYRA's goal continues to be improving the on-track numbers. On-track handle held up well, Meyocks said, despite extended periods of rain that particularly hurt Memorial Day weekend and Father's Day, which are normally strong days for Belmont Park