The economy still isn’t good, gas prices are through the roof and people continue to get laid off. But one thing remains constant – people still love to bet on horses!

Wagering and attendance remain up compared to 2011 after ten days of racing at Saratoga, according to The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA).

Attendance for the first two weeks of the meet was 203,780, a 1.2% increase from 201,400 in 2011.

On-track handle totaled $28,941,361, up 4.4% from $27,728,174 last year.

All-sources handle, which includes wagers on Saratoga races both on-track and from simulcast outlets nationwide, was $142,894,233, up 6.7% from $133,920,503 last year.

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Brian Sinkoff is a licensed Real Estate agent with Coldwell Banker Prime Properties. He’s been in media for nearly 20 years. Sinkoff is frequent contributor for Time Warner Cable Sports television and also was host of “Sound-off with Sinkoff” – which was on the ESPN Radio affiliate in Albany, NY from 2008-11.