Second Quarter Wagering, Purses Improve

With the Triple Crown races delivering strong numbers when compared with last year, wagering on United States races in the second quarter of 2018 improved just more than 5% compared with the same quarter last year, according to Thoroughbred racing economic indicators released July 5 by Equibase.

Despite a 2.45% decline in race days when comparing year-over-year second quarter totals, handle improved 5.02% to $3,238,712,367. That performance has helped wagering on U.S. races enjoy a 5.56% increase for the first six months of 2018 compared with the first six months of 2017.

With Justify completing a Triple Crown sweep this season, two of the three Triple Crown race days reported increased wagering this year, as the Kentucky Derby Day card was up 7.8% and the Belmont Stakes Day card was up 12%. The Preakness Day card was off 3.6%.

For horsemen, this has translated to a 2.19% increase in purses to $290,246,387 for the second quarter and a 3.8% jump for the first six months of the year to $515,570,052. As race days are down 2.89% for the first six months of 2018 compared with the first six months last year, average purses per race day are up 6.89% to $247,751.