Through 11 Months, Handle Similar to 2015
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Handle this year on U.S. races is similar to 2015.
According to numbers released Dec. 4 by Equibase, handle through November is similar to the first 11 months of 2015 and purses are down slightly.
While Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators comparing November of this year with November 2015 spiked in terms of purses and handle, those increases were largely because the Breeders' Cup World Championships were conducted in November this year after being run in October in 2015.
The year-to-year comparisons are more "apples-to-apples" and they point to an industry that will register similar numbers to last year. Through the first 11 months of 2016, wagering on U.S. races is up 0.4% to $10,017,659,790 while purses are down 1.25% to $1,022,816,865.
Handle and purse numbers are affected by the continuing contraction of racing. Race days are down 1.83% to 4,391 and total races are off 1.75% to 35,935.
Fans are supporting the available product. Wagering on U.S. races per race day is up 2.27% to $2,281,407. Purses per race day are up 0.6% to $232,935.
Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators
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