ARCADIA, Calif. — On the scale of misfortune wrought by Hurricane Sandy, its negative impact on the Breeders’ Cup today and tomorrow at Santa Anita rates near the bottom of the totem pole.
With large areas of Long Island and New Jersey still without power, many thousands of people won’t be able to place a bet or watch the races on TV. Wagering — which under optimal circumstances would push past $40 million today and $100 million tomorrow — figures to take a big hit.
“Aqueduct will be up and running [for simulcasting], and so will phone and Internet betting on NYRA Rewards,” Bob Elliston, chief operating officer of the Breeders’ Cup, told The Post. “But significant outlets like Belmont Park and Atlantic City will be closed. (Elliston was unsure about Nassau and Suffolk OTB.)
“But we have to be realistic. Even if they were open, people have more important things on their minds. It’s unfortunate for us, but much more unfortunate for the folks having to deal with [the aftermath of the storm]. We have so much compassion for them and are more interested in seeing them get back to normalcy.”
Elliston said the Breeders’ Cup has not broken down the numbers of how much handle it might lose, but things could have been much worse. A few summers ago, the Breeders’ Cup and the New York Racing Association were in discussions to hold the Cup at Belmont this year for the first time since 2005.
If that had happened, the Breeders’ Cup would have been canceled.
“Absolutely certain,” Elliston said. “No doubt about it.”