Pari-Mutuel Wagering Increases in January
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In a jump that could be related to larger average field sizes, pari-mutuel handle improved 1.52% in January compared with the same month last year, according to Thoroughbred racing economic indicators released Feb. 4 by Equibase.
While the number of races offered in January was down 2.75% to 2,547, the number of starts was up 2.85% to 21,172. That resulted in average field sizes improving to 8.31 starters per race, up from the 7.86 starter-per-race average in January 2014.
Studies have shown that larger fields generate more pari-mutuel handle, a trend that may have helped handle jump to $812,581,924.
While pari-mutuel handle improved, total purses could not overcome the decline in races. January purses fell 1.87% to $65,999,561.
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Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators
For January 2015 |
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January 2015 vs. January 2014 |
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Indicator |
January 2015 |
January 2014 |
% Change |
|
Wagering on U.S. Races* |
$812,581,924 |
$800,389,488 |
+1.52% |
|
U.S. Purses |
$65,999,561 |
$67,255,918 |
-1.87% |
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U.S. Race Days |
306 |
305 |
+0.33% |
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U.S. Races |
2,547 |
2,619 |
-2.75% |
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U.S. Starts |
21,172 |
20,586 |
+2.85% |
| * Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races. | |||