NEW YORK (AP) Souvenirs, everyone?
A $2 ticket on American Pharoah to win the Belmont Stakes may be worth a lot more money later than now. Or, people are hanging on to their own little piece of horse racing history.
Or selling them online.
Two days after American Pharoah became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, more than 95 percent of those who spent two bucks on win tickets have yet to cash them in.
Of the 94,128 $2 win wagers placed from Friday until Saturday's Belmont, 90,237 remain live - uncashed - according to figures released Monday by AmTote International.
AmTote handles the wagering system for the New York Racing Association, which operates Belmont Park, Aqueduct and Saratoga. The totals are from bets made at Aqueduct and Belmont.
For the 3,891 who cashed their $2 win tickets as of Monday, the payout was $3.50.
And for those still considering what to do, your deadline is March 31, 2016, or the money is returned to the state.
On eBay, $2 win tickets were being offered at $20 and up each; a Belmont Stakes program and $2 win ticket in the $65 range; and a $2 win ticket from each Triple Crown race - the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont - in the $300 range.
There was one listing offering 500 $2 Belmont Stakes win tickets on American Pharoah for $14,999.
---
Follow Richard Rosenblatt on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/rosenblattap
