The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) saw substantial gains in on-track handle and NYRA Rewards account wagering in 2011, helping to overcome the closure of New York City Off-Track Betting (NYCOTB), which had accounted for nearly 10 percent of total handle on NYRA races in 2010.

On-track wagering*, including simulcasting, increased 59 percent, with $625 million wagered in 2011 as opposed to $393 million in 2010. On-track handle exclusively on NYRA races increased 26.7 percent ($352 million compared to $278 million). NYRA conducted 240 live racing days in 2011 as opposed to 242 in 2010.

NYRA Rewards account wagering was up 96.5 percent in 2011 ($223 million, up from $113 million) with internet wagering up 192 percent ($88 million vs. $30 million) and phone wagering up 147 percent ($56 million vs. $23 million).

Total 2011 attendance on live racing days at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course was 1,809,865, an increase of 10.2 percent over the 1,642,648 people that attended NYRA races in 2010.

All-sources handle, including simulcasting, was up marginally in 2011 ($2.233 billion vs. $2.230 billion), while all-sources handle just on NYRA races dropped 7.3 percent ($1.960 billion vs. $2.114 billion).

NYRA’s 2011 wagering numbers reveal the impact of the closure of NYCOTB on December 8, 2010. NYCOTB accounted for $208 million of handle on NYRA races in 2010, 9.85 percent of the total handle wagered on NYRA in 2010.

Below are the exact totals and daily averages for 2011 as compared to last year:

Racing Days
240 in 2011
242 in 2010

Attendance
Up 10.2 percent total (1,809,865 vs. 1,642,648)
Up 11.1 percent average (7,541 vs. 6,788)

On-Track Handle* (including simulcast races)
Up 59 percent total ($625,306,557 vs. $393,223,353)
Up 60.3 percent average ($2,605,444 vs. $1,624,890)

On-Track Handle* (just NYRA races)
Up 26.7 percent total ($351,835,640 vs. $277,696,682)
Up 27.8 percent average ($1,465,982 vs. $1,147,507)

Total Handle (including simulcast races)
Up 0.2 percent total ($2,233,402,711 vs. $2,229,654,459)
Up 1.0 percent average ($9,305,845 vs. $9,213,448)

Total Handle (just NYRA races)
Down 7.3 percent total ($1,959,931,791 vs. $2,114,127,787)
**2010 figure includes $208,310,134 wagered from NYCOTB
Down 6.5 percent average ($8,166,382 vs. $8,736,065)

NYRA Rewards
Total NYRA Rewards handle up 96.5 percent ($222,667,859 vs. $113,318,420)
Phone up 147.3 percent total ($56,174,574 vs. $22,719,706)
Internet up 192 percent total ($87,767,520 vs. $30,056,643)

Belmont Café Handle during Aqueduct and Saratoga meets
$18,917,829 wagered on NYRA races
$27,099,358 wagered on simulcast races
$46,017,187 wagered total

* - Please note that NYRA on-track wagering numbers include handle wagered through NYRA Rewards account wagering and money wagered at the Belmont Café and Aqueduct Racetrack while live racing is not operating at those respective tracks.