A sensational six weeks of thoroughbred racing at Saratoga Race Course came to a close today with final handle and attendance figures surpassing projections prior to the meet and decisively outpacing nationwide wagering statistics.

Attendance was down 2.1 percent, on-track handle down 2.2 percent, and all-sources handle down 1.7 percent from 2008 totals, according to the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA).

NYRA officials speculated leading up to Saratoga’s July 29 opening that wagering would decline approximately five percent from 2008 figures. Equibase, the thoroughbred industry’s official statistics-gathering organization, last Friday reported a year-to-date 11.1 percent decline in wagering nationwide compared to 2008 and a 12.5 percent decline in wagering in August over the same month last year.

Full fields and brilliant late-summer weather defined the final week at Saratoga, capped by Saturday’s historic running of the Woodward Stakes when a (six-week meet) record final-Saturday crowd of 31,171 witnessed the breathtaking, incomparable performance of probable Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra.

• Attendance for the 2009 meet was 854,413, down from 872,627 in 2008, for a daily average of 23,734 compared to 24,240, with one less Giveaway Day in 2009 over 2008. (*See Note on attendance below.)

• On-track handle at Saratoga was $112,005,880, down from $114,563,754 in 2008, for a daily average of $3,111,274 compared to $3,182,327.

• All-sources handle (which includes money bet on Saratoga races from simulcast outlets nationwide) was $513,837,237, down from $522,530,643 in 2008, for a daily average of $14,273,257 compared to $14,514,740.

Average betting interests for the meet increased 3.1 percent (8.38 vs. 8.13) and total betting interests increased 4.8 percent (3,058 vs. 2,919) from 2008, with six more races run in 2009 over 2008 (365 vs. 359). Turf races totaled 164 with 29 taken off the turf, compared to 141 on and 38 off in 2008.

“By any measure, the 2009 Saratoga meet was an overwhelming success,” said New York Racing Association President and CEO Charles Hayward. “Performances on the track were led by a history-making Woodward victory by Rachel Alexandra, and attendance and total wagering far exceeded our expectations. We thank our customers, our owners, trainers, and jockeys, and our employees for their enthusiasm and participation.”

* Note: Attendance figures for Giveaway Days include patrons who pay multiple admissions to obtain more than one giveaway item, either at the track entrance or at the multiple admissions area inside the track. There were four Giveaway Days in the 2009 meet compared to five in 2008.