Saratoga Race Course Attendance Drops 5 Percent in 150th Anniversary Season

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — The 150th anniversary season at Saratoga Race Course has ended with attendance falling about 5 percent and on-track wagering dipping slightly from last year.

Local media outlets report that Monday's closing-day attendance of nearly 14,000 pushed the season's total attendance to just over 867,000, compared to about 900,000 in 2012.

Unofficial on-track wagering was about $128.2 million, nearly the same as last season. Overall handle from all betting sources dipped to $586.6 million, a drop of less than 1 percent.

New York Racing Association says the official attendance and handle figures from the 40-day meet won't be released until Tuesday.

The first organized thoroughbred races were held in Saratoga in August 1863. NYRA and local tourism groups held numerous on- and off-track festivities geared toward the 150th anniversary.