Attendance, wagering increase at recently concluded
Aqueduct meet
Aqueduct closed the doors on its 2008 winter and spring season with increases
in attendance, wagering and purses.
“The Aqueduct meet was very strong for NYRA, particularly in comparison with
the rest of the industry,” NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward said. “We had
strong handle and purse increases while the industry in the first quarter of
2008 had a decline in total handle by 3.1 percent and a decline in purses of
1.5 percent. We very much appreciate the participation of our horsemen and our
customers.”
From January 1 to April 27, average daily attendance rose 5.7 percent, from
2,610, to 2,760. With five more racing dates than in 2007, total attendance rose
12.8 percent, from 195,748 to 220,793.
Daily average on-track handle jumped 4.3 percent, from $602,659, to $628,295,
with total handle growing 11.2 percent, from $45,199,421 to $50,263,568.
All-sources handle also climbed, with the daily average up 3.7 percent, from
$7,847,427 to $8,139,712. All-sources handle totaled $651,176,929, a 10.6
percent increase over last year’s $588,557,037.
Aqueduct purses were also up by 6.2 percent over 12 months ago.