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NEW YORK ATTENDANCE Over Million Persons Patronize Empire State Tracks to Sept. 15. Gross Receipts ,752,575 to That Date Increases at Saratoga and Aqueduct. NEW YORK, N. T., Oct 6. Reports of the racing meetings at Saratoga and Aqueduct, held during August and early September, show the same growth in prosperity and public favor as has distinguished New York racing since the start of the racing year. Taking the totals of the two tracks as recorded and adding them to the totals of all New York race courses so far this year, an addition shows that 1,023,747 persons patronized New York racing up to the middle of September, that ,752,575.74 in gross receipts was taken in, that ,129,260 was distributed to winning horsemen and that taxes came to a total of 86,025.05. The corresponding figures a year ago were: Attendance, 877,781; receipts, ,308,-414.20; distribution, ,028,600, and taxes, 56,025.94. In statements forwarded to the New York State Racing Commission, Saratoga and Aqueduct show notable increases in attendance, receipts and state tax payments. Saratogas twenty-eight day August meeting equaled the most prosperous ever held at the famous course. Aqueducts fifteen-day meeting in the succeeding first half of September topped all records for that race track since it was opened in 1894. INCREASING FIGURES. A total of 229,749 persons attended Saratogas meeting, the receipts were 80,000, the distribution to horsemen 14,100, and the tax 2,331.93. Aqueduct attracted a gross attendance of 107,287, receipts from all sources were 24,007.95, winning horsemen divided 14,150, and the track paid a tax of 9,603.43. Both sets of figures disclosed marked gains over a year ago. In August of 1935, Saratoga attracted 207,812 racegoers or 21,-937 fewer than it did this year, its receipts were 22,128.61, or 7,871.39 less than this year, and it paid a tax of 8,186.11, or ,145.82 less than this year. Its money distribution was 28,335, or 4,235 more than was awarded this year, but that occurcd only because its stake program had been rearranged with a view of cutting -down the amounts of money offered to two-year-old horses. The amount of money reported as distributed this year was exclusively purse money and added money to stakes. Aqueduct, as has been said already, beat all its previous records. Its 107,287 of attendance was 31.518 better than its 72,769 of " 1935, its receipts of 24,007.95 were 2,991.43 better than its gross of 01,-01652 for autumn a year ago, its distribution of 14,150 was 6,950 better than its previous 7,200 and its 9,603.43 tax payment ,036.55 better than its previous 0,-566.88. The track had the advantage of Labor Day in its autumn schedule on which day it was necessary to open the infield so as to relieve the press of attendance in the stands and clubhouse and of consistently fine weather throughout the meeting.
