Aqueduct continued the trend of spectator-free racetracks racking up handle increases, reporting a 12.8% increase in average daily, all-sources handle for its just-completed fall meet.
The New York Racing Association announced Aqueduct checked in with an average daily handle of $9,261,276. This daily increase came despite a drop in overall meet handle. Aqueduct’s 2020 fall meet all-sources handle came in at $166,702,976 – a 23.1% drop from 2019’s $205,249,710.
This requires deeper perspective. Last year’s Aqueduct fall meet ran over 25 race days — seven more days than this year’s 18-day meet. NYRA ran 233 races last year. This year, it ran 175.
Aqueduct reported healthy field sizes for those races. Big A averaged 8.67 starters per race, a 3.2% jump from last year. Horsemen took advantage of 29 stakes – 11 graded stakes – over those 18 days to build field sizes. This at a track considered NYRA’s ugly stepsister when compared to Belmont Park and Saratoga.
Carmouche, Clement Enjoy Big Moments at Big A
But, the “ugly stepsister†produced some beautiful moments this meet. Kendrick Carmouche earned his first NYRA riding title, adding his name to a prestigious list of standout riders with his 23 victories. Those victories included four stakes victories, including Carmouche’s first Grade 1 victory in his 20-year career. That came in the Cigar Mile aboard True Timber.
Christophe Clement grabbed his first NYRA meet training title, going 16-6-1 with 52 starters. He nipped Todd Pletcher by one victory. Clement, who finished second in the Belmont Park fall meet, sent both maidens and stakes victors to the winner’s circle. His headline win came with Mutamakina in the Grade 3 Long Island Stakes.
“It’s my first one in New York and it feels great,†Clement told NYRA. “Nothing would be possible without the horses, the owners and the staff. I’m thrilled because New York means a lot to me. It was a good meet; we’ve won at different levels. The maidens have been running great and we won stakes races. The whole stable is doing well.â€
Betting Klaravich Horses Cashes More than 75%
Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables tied Mike Repole’s Repole Stables for top owner honors. Both barns won five races. Klaravich horses hit the board 14 times in 18 starts, for a sterling 77.78% in-the-money percentage. It marked Klaravich’s fourth consecutive NYRA ownership title, joining those earned at the Belmont Fall, Saratoga Summer, and Belmont Spring/Summer meets.