Saratoga Summer Meet Up $34M Over Last Season

Saratoga Race Course's summer meet, "which benefited from six weeks of fabulous weather, was hugely successful," according to Paul Moran of NEWSDAY. Total betting handle surpassed the ’06 total by $34M, with $10M of that wagered on-track by crowds that averaged about 27,000 a day (NEWSDAY, 9/4).

DEL MAR: The first Polytrack season at Del Mar ended with 11 horses euthanized as the result of injuries: six on the Polytrack and five on the turf course.  There were 18 fatalities in '06: 14 on the dirt track and four on the turf. Meanwhile, on-track attendance and handle were up 0.4% and 1.2%, respectively, over ’06 and all-sources handle was up 3.3% on a daily average of $13.9M (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 9/6). The meet’s total handle was $601,453,672, “second highest in Del Mar history” (L.A. TIMES, 9/6).

ARLINGTON PARK: In Chicago, Megan Twohey reports wagering on races at Arlington Park has risen 15% since last year to $333M as of August 22, the “highest level in several years.” Attendance is expected to reach 800,000 by September 16, up from 655,788 in ’06. Arlington Park oddsmaker Joe Kristufek said, “There’s a new energy here.” Meanwhile, the new Polytrack surface is “winning praise from management, jockeys, trainers and fans." Only 11 horses "have suffered fatal breakdowns” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/2).