Week of September 8 – September 14, 2017
NEWS 3
NYRA: Record-Breaking Handle at 2017 Saratoga Meet SARATOGA SPRINGS — The summer meet at the Spa is in the history books and for the second time in the past three years the New York Racing Association is celebrating a record for all-sources wagering on racing at Saratoga. The 2017 Saratoga meet delivered a handle of $676,709,490, eclipsing the previous high set in 2015 by 4.4 percent. That 4.4 percent increase in wagering from all sources included $157,014,965 in on-track handle - a 3.4 percent increase over last season, which incorporates live parimutuel wagering at Saratoga Race Course, at NYRA’s downstate tracks and New York State residents who wager through NYRA Bets. Additionally, the $47,870,987 in handle generated on Travers Day marked the second highest handle in history for Saratoga’s premier day of racing, an increase of five percent over 2016. NYRA President and CEO Chris Kay called the record wagering “a reflection of the work of our racing office, the expansion of our national
ADW platform NYRA Bets, and the increased reach of our groundbreaking television program Saratoga Live, which is now available in 75 million homes nationwide. And finally, we were certainly blessed with fantastic weather.” Saratoga Live expanded its reach this summer into more than 75 million households, including new audiences in Los Angeles, San Diego, Ohio and Kentucky. More than 16,000 people in 114 cities and across 25 countries also downloaded NYRA XP during the Saratoga meet. The app enables fans to watch live racing in high definition, wager through NYRA Bets, and purchase tickets,
parking, food and merchandise at the click of a button. Fans were also able to utilize the app to reserve a ride with Uber for the first time. The 40-day meet included 69 stakes worth $18.775 million in purses. Michael Dubb made it four straight titles as the meet’s leading owner with 15 wins. Todd Pletcher captured the H. Allen Jerkens training title, tying the Spa record for wins with 40 victories. Jockey Jose Ortiz earned back-toback Angelo Cordero, Jr. titles as the meet’s top rider with 58 wins. Three-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Ramon Dominguez was welcomed
to the Saratoga Walk of Fame at the fifth annual Red Jacket Ceremony, during which Dominguez received an emblematic Saratoga red
jacket and unveiled his commemorative plaque. Total paid attendance for the 2017 Saratoga meet was 1,117,838.