Belmont Stakes Day generates record handle for non-Triple Crown year
by Pat McKenna
Saturday's blockbuster Belmont Stakes Day card, highlighted by Dornoch’s victory in the 156th running of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, generated all-sources handle of $125,748,941 which is a New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) record for a non-Triple Crown year.
The 2024 all-sources handle figure is an increase of more than 6.3 percent over the previous non-Triple Crown record of $118,283,455, which was set in 2023.
On-track handle for the 14-race Belmont Stakes Day card, which included six Grade 1 races among nine total stakes, was $14,854,311.
All-sources handle for the Belmont Stakes, which was carded as Race 12 was $60,904,557.
A sellout crowd of 50,000 witnessed history as the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival was held at Saratoga Race Course for the first time to allow for the uninterrupted construction of a new Belmont Park, the Long Island home of the Belmont Stakes.
For more information about the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course, visit BelmontStakes.com.