Attendance, on-track handle, and total handle all posted gains over 2010 totals as the 143rd Saratoga Race Course meeting opened today.

Friday’s attendance of 25,155 was up 8.5 percent from last year’s rain-soaked 23,178.

On-track handle for the 10-race Saratoga card totaled $3,551,745, a 13.4 percent increase over $3,130,756 on Opening Day 2010.

Wagering at the downstate Belmont Café and Aqueduct Racetrack simulcast facilities was $407,383, resulting in a combined on-track handle of $3,959,128, up 18.5 percent from $3,341,842 last year. 

All-sources handle, which includes wagers on Saratoga races both on-track and from simulcast outlets nationwide, was $15,871,449, up 18.9 percent from $13,349,050 in 2010.

“These handle increases of 13.4 percent on track and 18.9 percent all sources are very encouraging, and we expect a big opening weekend here at Saratoga,” said NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward