On-track handle increased 1.5 percent at the recently-concluded 58-day Belmont Park Spring/Summer Meet, despite the loss of one racing day. Wagering for Belmont Stakes Day’s 13-race card (June 7), which included five other graded stakes, was the second highest on-track in history.

On-track handle for races conducted at Belmont Park totaled $69,722,257 for a daily average of $1,202,108, up from $68,718,518 for a daily average of $1,164,721 in 2007.

Total all-sources handle for the meet, which includes money bet on Belmont Park races from simulcast outlets, was $662,605,734, a 2.2 percent decrease from $677,495,619 in 2007. Daily all-sources average was $11,424,237 compared to $11,482,977 in 2007.

On-track wagering on Belmont Stakes Day soared 49.9 percent to $13,256,019 from $8,843,720 in 2007. Total all-sources handle on Belmont Stakes Day races jumped 32.6 percent to $100,378,472 from $75,686,429 in 2007.

Total attendance for the Belmont Park meet was up 2.9 percent, to 391,634 (daily average of 6,752) from 380,531 (daily average of 6,450) in 2007. Attendance figures were assisted by a crowd of 94,476 for Belmont Stakes Day, compared to 46,870 in 2007.

“Despite a downturn in the economy and softness in the thoroughbred racing industry, we’re pleased with the modest increase of the Belmont Park Spring/Summer meeting,” said NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward. “Clearly a big driver of the numbers was Big Brown’s Belmont Stakes Triple Crown attempt, but this was somewhat offset by the loss of a racing day.”