U.S. Handle, Purses Up in April
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Photo: Michael Burns
U.S. handle and purses both grew in April
Thoroughbred racing's economic health, as measured by handle and purses, is bright as the industry rolls into the Triple Crown season.
Handle, purses, and number of race days in the United States all showed increases last month, when compared with April of 2015. Total handle rose nearly 8.1% to $929,101,792, and total purses paid increased more than 6.9% to $90,184,575. The total number of races also increased 4.5% to 3,138 and the total U.S. starts was up nearly 6.4% to 24,056.
Keeneland would have been a significant contributor to the growth. In 2015 during Keeneland's first spring meet with its new dirt surface, the Lexington area track reported a 14.8% decline in all-sources handle. Total on-track wagering and average daily handle also both declined 14.7%.
This spring was a different story. Keeneland credited full, competitive fields for a nearly 23.8% increase in the all-sources handle to $145,592,372. The average daily handle also was up just more than 16% to $9,099,523, from $7,841,141 during April of 2015. Keeneland registered an all-time, single-day handle record of $21,736,983 April 9, the day of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I).
Year-to-date, handle is tracking ahead 4.4%, compared with the first four months of 2015. Purses are nearly even, despite a 4.15% decline in race days and a nearly 3% decline in races.
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Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators
For April 2016 |
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April 2016 vs. April 2015 |
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Indicator |
April 2016 |
April 2015 |
% Change |
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Wagering on U.S. Races* |
$929,101,792 |
$859,531,911 |
+8.09% |
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U.S. Purses |
$90,184,575 |
$84,341,023 |
+6.93% |
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U.S. Race Days |
378 |
363 |
+4.13% |
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U.S. Races |
3,138 |
3,003 |
+4.50% |
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U.S. Starts |
24,056 |
22,61 |
+6.37% |
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YTD 2016 vs. YTD 2015 |
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Indicator |
YTD 2016 |
YTD 2015 |
% Change |
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Wagering on U.S. Races* |
$3,427,397,771 |
$3,282,297,374 |
+4.42% |
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U.S. Purses |
$287,541,601 |
$286,973,318 |
+0.20% |
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U.S. Race Days |
1,225 |
1,278 |
-4.15% |
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U.S. Races |
10,420 |
10,735 |
-2.93% |
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U.S. Starts |
83,684 |
84,758 |
-1.27% |
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* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.
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Source: © 2016 Equibase Company LLC, all rights reserved. Data provided or compiled by Equibase Company LLC generally is accurate, but occasionally errors and omissions occur as a result of incorrect data received by others, mistakes in processing and other causes. Equibase Company LLC disclaims responsibility for the consequences, if any, of such errors, but would appreciate their being called to their attention.