Nationwide, wagering fell 7.2 percent on thoroughbred races in 2008, with declines accelerating in the second half of the year including a 20.3 percent drop in December.

In comparison, all-sources handle on races from Saratoga, Belmont Park and Aqueduct fell 2.1 percent from $2,543,796,141 in 2007 to $2,489,276,587 last year a difference of more than $54.5 million.

Daily average wagering on NYRA races from all sources fell 3.7 percent, from $10,382,841 to $9,997,095 or $385,746 less.

Although we were off to a strong start in 2008, the slumping economy caught up with us in the second half of the year, said NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward. However, despite the decline in handle, NYRA outperformed the industry as a whole.

Similar drop-offs were seen in other facets of the gaming industry, such as Atlantic City casinos, where gambling revenues fell 7.6 percent in 2008, with an 18.7 percent decline in December alone, NYRA said.

NYRA’s on-track handle including Saratoga totaled $415,220,474 last year, down 3.3 percent from $429,420,826. Daily average on-track handle was $1,667,552, down 4.9 percent from the 2007 average of $1,752,738.

In 2008, 1,735,717 fans attended 249 race days, down 5.7 percent from the 1,841,462 who attended the 245 race days of 2007. Daily average attendance was off 7.2 percent, from 7,516 to 6,971.

NYRA said much of the attendance decline came during the Saratoga meet, which was hurt by several weeks of dismal weather along with a slumping economy.

On the plus side, at a time when purse payouts dropped 1.3 percent nationwide, NYRA’s purses grew by 3.1 percent, from $117,814,278 to $121,414,236, with daily average purses rising 1.4 percent to $487,607, up from $480,875 in 2007.

For NYRA, the most important development of 2008 was its emergence from bankruptcy and the awarding of a new 25-year franchise to run racing at New York’s three main thoroughbred tracks.

Gary Contessa, with 150 wins, topped the trainer standings for the third consecutive year, while Alan Garcia won 220 races for his first NYRA leading jockey title