Quote:
Originally Posted by PatCummings
How many race days were there at Belmont or the comparable NYC-area tracks in 1921?
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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.