Saratoga’s 2024 meet surpasses 1 million in paid attendance

This summer’s Saratoga Race Course meet passed the 1 million mark in paid attendance, according to the New York Racing Association.

The 39-day meet saw a paid attendance of 1,051,092, NYRA said, with the all-sources wagering handle totaling more than $800 million. The Belmont Stakes, held in Saratoga for the first time this spring, brought an all-time high in non-Triple Crown-year wagering.

The all-sources handle and average daily handle were higher than 2023’s marks despite having one fewer day of racing in 2024, though the average daily paid attendance dropped 2.5%, to 26,951.

“Over the course of a four-day weekend in June and throughout our traditional summer meet in July and August, our fans embraced all that makes Saratoga so special,” said NYRA President/CEO Dave O’Rourke.

The 2024 meet lost a full day of racing, on Friday, Aug. 9, due to the effect of a tropical storm in the region.