Live sports returned to New York last Wednesday, and apparently race fans in the northeast were chomping at the bit, raring to lay their money down.
The New York Racing Association, announced that Opening Week of the 2020 Belmont Park spring/summer meet generated an all-sources handle of $76,264,891 dollars.
The 25-day Belmont spring/summer will be conducted without spectators and with strict health and safety protocols in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Racing fans engaged with the Opening Week action via America’s Day at the Races, the acclaimed national telecast produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports.
NYRA Bets, introduced in 2016, is the official online wagering platform of the Belmont spring/summer meet.
The record-breaking Opening Week for the 2020 meet was capped by Sunday’s 10 race card which boasted an all-sources handle of $15,224,584 dollars.
All told, the 51-race Opening Week slate which returned an all-sources handle of $76,264,891 dollars was an 84% increase over the first five days of the 2019 meet.
The 2020 Belmont spring/summer meet continues through Sunday, July 12th. Live racing will be offered Thursday through Sunday with a first post of 1:15 p.m.
The 25-day meet will feature 22 Graded Stakes and 40 Stakes races in total worth $7 million dollars in purses.
After July 12th NYRA will pack up and move out of Elmont, NY and head north to Saratoga. The Spa is scheduled to open (without spectators) on Thursday July 16th.
