Horse Racing admission prices

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

How many race days were there at Belmont or the comparable NYC-area tracks in 1921?

151 racing days.

Belmont had 36 days.

Saratoga had 27 days.

The rest were at the other NYC -area tracks (Jamaica, Empire City, Aqueduct)

I'm not 100 percent sure -- but it would appear as though purses were largely funded by admission prices for the customers who came to the track -- and by charging licensed bookmakers fees to operate on the grounds of the race track.

Basically, if I have that right, the track got none of the betting handle for purses.

The bookmakers offered different prices on horses and always at a very low takeout because of competition -- and this allowed a VERY favorable market for bettors.