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NYRA concludes 2024 campaign at Saratoga Race Course

by McKenna, Bardack

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that the 2024 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course generated more than $800 million in all-sources wagering handle and exceeded 1 million in paid attendance.

Handle from all sources eclipsed total wagering for the 2023 Saratoga meet despite the cancellation this summer of a full day of racing on Friday, Aug. 9 due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby.

All-sources handle for the 2024 summer meet totaled $803,806,964 with paid attendance of 1,051,092. Average daily handle for the 39-day meet was $20,610,435, reflecting an annual increase of 3.2 percent.

Prior to the 2024 summer meet, the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival was held at Saratoga Race Course for the first time in history due to the ongoing construction of a new Belmont Park. Records fell on both Belmont Stakes Day and DraftKings Travers Day with the latter responsible for $63,023,405 in all-sources handle while the former saw an all-time high in wagering for a non-Triple Crown year.

“Over the course of a four-day weekend in June and throughout our traditional summer meet in July and August, our fans embraced all that makes Saratoga so special,” said Dave O’Rourke, NYRA President & CEO. “We thank all our racing participants for their contribution to the summer meet as well as the local community, including city and county leaders, the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Association and Discover Saratoga, for their ongoing support of NYRA and Saratoga Race Course.”

Among the noteworthy highlights of the meet was the introduction of the NYRA Students of Thoroughbreds and Racing (STAR) program. As many as 850 youth participated in the inaugural program which provided them with behind-the-scenes access into the world of thoroughbred racing. NYRA STAR members experienced Saratoga through exclusive on-track events and educational opportunities, culminating in an end-of-season celebration on the final Sunday of the summer meet.

Saratoga Race Course, the surrounding communities and the many local attractions, including the Philadelphia Orchestra’s annual summer residency at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, were showcased on a national stage thanks to the continuing partnership between NYRA and FOX Sports. FOX Saratoga Saturday returned for the second consecutive year and culminated its summer run on FOX with the DraftKings Travers on Aug. 24.

Saratoga Stats: 2024 vs. 2023

Note: 39 days of racing in 2024 vs. 40 in 2023

• All-sources handle: $803,806,964 vs. $799,229,288
• Average daily handle: $20,610,435 vs. $19,980,732 (+3.2%)
• Total on-track handle: $136,295,228 vs. $142,918,763
• Total paid attendance: 1,051,092 vs. 1,105,683
• Average daily paid attendance: 26,951 vs. 27,642 (-2.5%)
• Races off the turf: 45 vs. 65
• Total races: 412 (257 dirt and 155 turf) vs. 410 (270 dirt and 140 turf)
• Average field size: 7.8 vs. 7.6

Highlights of the 2024 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course

• All three reigning champions successfully defended their titles with Klaravich Stables returning as the meet’s leading owner; Chad Brown claiming the H. Allen Jerkens training title; and jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. winning the Angel Cordero, Jr. riding title.

• Fierceness became the 13th horse to capture both the Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun and the DraftKings Travers, edging out three-time Grade 1-winning filly Thorpedo Anna in the thrilling 155th renewal of Saratoga’s premier Grade 1 event.

• NYRA completed work on a new residential building for the backstretch community at Saratoga Race Course. The 6,000 square-foot, 116-unit dormitory on the Oklahoma Training Track is the latest in a series of actions by Governor Kathy Hochul and NYRA to improve housing along the backstretch. In addition, NYRA is renovating and modernizing existing housing on both the Oklahoma and main track with new dormitory construction planned through 2025.

• NYRA unveiled sweeping renovations and upgrades to the lower level of the Clubhouse, highlighted by a reimagined Jim Dandy Bar, presented by Great Jones Distilling Co. The improvements included a new Clubhouse Grill and an expansive drinking rail that provides an unobstructed view of the paddock.

• NYRA continued to expand its highly popular Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm tour to include newcomer Sugar Plum Farm which joined incumbents Old Tavern Farm and Song Hill Thoroughbreds. The program, which features Breakfast at Saratoga and a guided tour of a local breeding farm, was offered four days each week of the racing season.

• NYRA hosted first responders from across New York State on Thursday, July 25 and paid special tribute on Military Appreciation Day, Thursday, Aug. 22, to three New York Army National Guard soldiers from the Capital Region whose military helicopter crashed earlier this year, killing two and seriously injuring the third.

• NYRA hosted Special Olympics New York on Friday, Aug. 23, which conducted a special 50/50 raffle fundraiser that generated $14,110. The prize was split between Special Olympics New York programs and the winning ticket holder. NYRA also hosted 39 partners at its annual Community Booth which provides nonprofit organizations with a platform to raise awareness and funds for their programs and missions.

• Hockey and horses were the theme of two special events as Saratoga hosted a visit from the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup on Saturday, Aug. 31, courtesy of St. Elias Stable and Florida Panthers principal owner Vincent “Vinnie” Viola. Saratoga also welcomed players and staff from the 2014 Union College Hockey men’s national championship team on Friday, July 19 in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the local college’s historic achievement.

• NYRA continued its annual partnership with the signature Taste NY program that featured small producers of spirits, wines and beers from across the state, showcasing and sampling their products to an enthusiastic audience within the Taste NY Pavilion every Thursday through Sunday during the meet.

Live racing resumes on Friday, Sept. 13 during the Belmont at the Big A fall meet which runs through Sunday, Nov. 3. Due to the ongoing construction of the new Belmont Park, the fall meet will once again be conducted at Aqueduct Racetrack. The 31-day meet offers a total of 50 stakes worth $10.35 million in total purses and will include four Grade 1 events and six Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifiers.

For more information, visit NYRA.com.

About the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA)

NYRA holds the exclusive franchise to conduct thoroughbred racing at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of New York State’s horse racing economy, which is responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic impact.