Longer Saratoga Race Course meet unlikely
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » New York Racing Association President and CEO Chris Kay declined comment Tuesday about the possibility of a longer Saratoga Race Course meet next year.
But NYRA board’s lone local member, Georgeanna Nugent of Saratoga Springs, said Kay told her last week there are no plans for extending the meet, which she is strongly opposed to.
“I’m not in favor of it at all,” Nugent said. “Number one is the legacy of the Saratoga meet. I respect the tradition and history of how it’s been done.”
Kay said: “If we ever make a decision, I’m always going to say it in a press release.”
However, in a Tweeted published report, Kay reportedly said the meet will remain at 40 days next year.
NYRA says the 2018 season generated nearly $660 million in all-sources handle, the second-highest figure ever, and that paid attendance topped 1.1 million for the third straight year. New all-sources wagering records were set on Travers Day and Woodward Day, and Opening Day wagering was the second most in track history.
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. clinched his second Angel Cordero Jr. riding title with 52 wins, Chad Brown captured the H. Allen Jerkens training title by breaking his own Saratoga record with 46 victories, and Klaravich Stables was the meet’s leading owner with 21 wins.
Among the 69 stakes run during the meet, the highlight occurred on Travers Day when a paid crowd of 49,418 saw Catholic Boy win the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers with a four-length victory, giving Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano his record sixth victory in the race.
The Travers Day card generated a record-breaking all-sources handle of $52,086,597 - marking the first time all-sources wagering on Travers Day topped $50 million — surpassing the previous record set in 2015 by 4.9 percent.
On the final Saturday of the season, NYRA set another record for handle when $31,030,034 from all sources was wagered on Woodward Day, easily eclipsing the previous Woodward Day record set in 2017 by 11.3 percent.
All-sources handle for the Saratoga meet has increased more than $100 million since 2010.
Following is the year-byyear total: • 2010: $551,660,724 • 2011: $526,251,819 (Weather forced cancellation of one day’s racing) • 2012: $588,351,964 • 2013: $586,617,240 • 2014: $571,163,485 • 2015: $648,272,805 • 2016: $647,322,503 • 2017: $676,709,490 • 2018: $659,083,459 The 36-day fall Belmont Park meet begins Friday, Sept. 7 and runs through Sunday, Oct. 28.