While horse racing may bring up visions of gamblers waving around their betting slips at the track, the New York Racing Association is seeing higher interest from the general public, thanks to online sports betting. Cheddar's Michelle Castillo reports.

Cheddar's News Wrap

Americans Are Betting Big on Horse Races This Summer 

now, the Triple Crown may have finished at Belmont Park, but it actually marks the beginning of the summer horse racing season, there's plenty more to come in new york and across the country, especially at a time when americans are betting more on ponies than ever before. Our new senior reporter, Michelle castello visited Belmont Park to learn more with a full crowd in attendance. This year's Belmont Stakes showed the fervor for horse racing is real, even for casual fans, notes new york Racing Association's Pat McKenna. It's a terrific celebration of world class thoroughbred racing entertainment. There's hospitality options as you can see for just about um everyone, there's a there's a million different ways to enjoy a day at the racetrack, mo Donegal may have been crowned the Belmont Stakes winner, but the horses are just getting warmed up, even though these future champions may not know it, it's just the beginning. Belmont Stakes may mark the end of the Triple Crown races, but it's really the start to the summer racing season. While horse racing may bring up stereotypes of older gentlemen placing their bets. Naira is seeing a boost in younger attendees. There's higher interest in general, thanks to online sports betting raising has evolved to the point where in person attendance is not necessarily the most effective barometer of the sport's popularity wagering handle is the best measure of overall fan engagement. Americans spent $12.2 billion on thoroughbred horse racing during the 2021 season according to echo base, It marked an 11.9% increase over 2020's disrupted season And it's the first time wagers reached above 12 billion since 2009. Though, many people may not have a strategy going in. Let's go skippy baby, Let's go skippy Rich the kid. That's it. Some managed to make it work. I'm not gonna disclose how much money I'm of, but it's up and we're having a great time for Eugenia Romanova. These events always keep things interesting. We just want to have fun, enjoy, look at the horses, bet on big ones and make the best of it, Kathleen Kennelly who's been to Belmont 10 times, finds it gives her a chance to dress up. You know, you go on an airplane and people are wearing their pajamas, I get it. But I also think that there's a little elegance lost in the world and I think that race day brings it all back and some like Jack Dash attended Belmont for the first time, looking for a chance to hang out with a jovial crowd, but it won't be his last race. Look at the atmosphere here, It's unbelievable. Like I've never been in anything like this. Like outside with all the food trucks and everything, it's beautiful and then everyone's like betting on horses. It's, it's a good time in general, Final furlough racing stable, managing partner Vince Roth points out, there's more to come at new york's Belmont Park and Saratoga racetrack horse racing is a sport, I think doesn't get the notoriety. It should. I mean, you know, like I said, look around you see everybody having a great time, even if it's just to enjoy some time outside, says carl smith this summer time, you just got to get out and live for cheddar news. I'm Michelle Castillo.