Horse Racing Thriving in Saratoga
A blockbuster Travers Day card, highlighted by Catholic Boy’s victory in the 149th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers, generated all-sources handle of $52,086,597, shattering the previous record set in 2015 by 4.9 percent.
All-sources handle, which exceeded the $50 million mark on Travers Day for the first time ever, surpassed the 2017 all-sources number by 8.8 percent.
On-track handle was $11,466,264, an increase of 5.6 percent over 2017, and just shy of 2015’s $11,472,451.
A paid crowd of 49,418 witnessed Catholic Boy put away European invader Mendelssohn in the stretch to draw clear for a four-length victory in the Runhappy Travers, giving Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano his record sixth victory in the race.
The Runhappy Travers was one of six Grade 1 stakes on Travers Day, which also featured the Grade 1, $1 million Sword Dancer, the Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign, the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego, the Grade 1, $500,000 Ketel One Ballerina and the Grade 1 $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens presented by Runhappy. The Travers Day card was rounded out by the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa.
The 2018 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course continues through Labor Day, Monday, September 3. For more information about Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com.
2018 Travers Day
August 25, 2018
All-sources: $52,086,597
On-track: $11,466,264
2017 Travers Day
August 26, 2017
All-sources: $47,870,987
On-track: $10,862,095
2016 Travers Day
August 27, 2016
All-sources: $45,596,367
On-track: $10,778,993
2015 Travers Day
August 29, 2015
All-sources: $49,668,754
On-track: $11,472,451
2018 Woodward Stakes Day Handle also shows Big Increase
A strong card featuring four graded stakes on the final Saturday of the 2018 meet – highlighted by Yoshida’s victory against a
full field of 14 in the 65th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward – generated an all-sources handle record of $31,030,034, easily eclipsing the previous Woodward Day record set in 2017 by 11.3 percent.
On-track handle was $5,895,252, an increase of eight percent over 2017.
The record-setting day came a week after the New York Racing Association established a new record for all-sources handle on Travers Day with $52,086,597, marking the first time all-sources wagering on Travers Day topped $50 million.
Woodward Day also featured Raging Bull’s impressive win in the 111th running of the Grade 3, $300,000 Saranac, part of an effort that saw Chad Brown set a new Saratoga single-meet wins records for a trainer, with the conditioner eclipsing the previous mark of 40. Sippican Harbor, at odds of 16-1, won the Grade 1, $350,000 Spinaway and earned an all-fees paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Following Yoshida’s win in his dirt debut, Lady Montdore ended the day with a victory in the Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls.
The 2018 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course concludes Labor Day, Monday, September 3 with an 11-race card highlighted by the Grade 1, $350,000 Hopeful for 2-year-olds and the Grade 2, $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap on the turf.
Source: NYRA
