Handle up at Meadowlands in '08

Despite negative trends throughout the racing industry, total wagering on racing at the Meadowlands in 2008 was up more than five percent, and all sources handle on the Meadowlands’ January–August harness meet was $354.8 million, up seven percent from the $331.7 million wagered in 2007. For the recently wrapped 17-date Holiday Harness Meet, the total average daily handle was $2,645,212, a 10.4 percent increase over the 2007 daily average of $2,396,958.

The 2008 Thoroughbred meet also posted positive gains in total handle. The average daily total handle for the 40-date meet, which spanned six cards a week from Sept.–Nov. 15, was $1,573,513, a 7.3 percent increase over the $1,466,524 in 2007.

The first state-owned off-track wagering facility, Favorites at Woodbridge, posted strong numbers in its first full year of operation, handling $96.2 million. New Jersey Account Wagering (NJAW) handled $89 million for the year, a 16.2 percent increase over 2007. NJAW is a partnership between the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and Pennwood Racing LLC.

The Meadowlands’ sister track, Monmouth Park, also posted a 3.1 percent increase in average daily handle for its 100-day thoroughbred meet, with $3,274,800 wagered vs. $3,177,212 the previous year. Monmouth’s premier event, the Haskell Invitational, drew record wagering of $4,257,409, pacing Monmouth to a single-day record total handle of $17,642,954, an all-time record for New Jersey pari-mutuels.(Meadowlands)

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