TurfPublicists: DOUBLE-DIGIT INCREASES IN ATTENDANCE AND HANDLE ACCOMPANY THRILLING MET MILE DAY

Monday, May 28, 2012

Contact: Dan Silver

DOUBLE-DIGIT INCREASES IN ATTENDANCE AND HANDLE ACCOMPANY THRILLING MET MILE DAY

ELMONT, N.Y. – On-track and all-sources handle showed double-digit increases on Met Mile Day at Belmont Park, which featured victories by Shackleford in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, Contested in the Grade 1 Acorn, It’s Tricky in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Handicap, and Better Lucky in the Grade 2 Sands Point.

On-track handle was $2,296,972 up 13 percent from last year’s on-track total of $2,031,127. An additional $325,931 was wagered via simulcasting at Aqueduct Racetrack, up 64 percent from the $198,701 wagered at Aqueduct last year on Met Mile Day.

All-sources handle on NYRA races was $14,444,665, up 10.7 percent from last year’s figure of $13,046,748.

This year’s attendance of 10,577 was a 15.7 percent increase from last year’s attendance of 9,144.

Met Mile Day featured 11 races this year, the same as last year. This year’s card had 87 betting interests, compared to 88 betting interests last year.

Last year Met Mile Day featured two graded stakes – the Met Mile and the Sands Point – while this year’s card featured four graded stakes.

Fans wagered $776,388 into the $500,000 Guaranteed All Graded Stakes Pick 4, the first time this wager was offered on Met Mile Day.

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