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With a stellar eight Grade I races on the card including the 153rd Belmont S. presented by NYRA Bets, Belmont Park generated all-sources handle of $112,725,278 Saturday. The amount marks a New York Racing Association (NYRA) record for a non-Triple Crown year, in spite of limited attendance and restrictions on track due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021 all-sources handle is a greater than 10% increase over the previous non-Triple Crown record of $102,163,280, set in 2019. On-track handle for the 13-race card was $7,532,571.
All-sources handle on the Belmont S. was $60,459,330, with Essential Quality (Tapit) winning the Elmont track’s flagship $1.5-million race. Paid attendance was 11,238, with capacity restricted in accordance with New York State guidelines. Last year, the Belmont was run with no spectators and as the opening leg of the Triple Crown with the race distance also abbreviated to nine furlongs instead of its traditional 12 furlongs. It returned to its usual distance this year.
The three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which featured 17 black-type events and 33 races from Thursday to Saturday, generated all-sources handle of $141,984,866.
The Belmont Park spring/summer meet continues through July 11.