Handle, Purses Keep Growing Through Summer
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
For the year, through Sept. 30, wagering on U.S races is up 3.95% over 2017.
Despite a continued decline in race days and total races, wagering on United States races and purses awarded both maintained an upward trend during the summer months.
According to Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators released Oct. 5 by Equibase, total wagering improved 0.94% for the third quarter of the year and average wagering per race improved 5.43% compared with the same quarter of 2017. Total purses during the third quarter rose 2.06%. For the month of September, total wagering grew 5.29% to $854,597,901 and purses increased 6.23% to $116,256,156 compared with September 2017.
These increases came despite continued decline in race days for the third quarter, off 4.26% to 1,415; and U.S. races, down 3.78% to 11,257. Also, average field size for the quarter was off 1.93% to an average of 7.39 starters per race.
The increased total handle and purses coupled with the decline in race days drove up average wagering per race day 5.43% to $2,104,046 and average purses improved more 6.60% to $235,749 for the third quarter.
For the year through Sept. 30, wagering on U.S. races is up 3.95% to $8,843,244,840 and purses have improved 3.11% to $849,157,835.
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Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators
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For September/3rd Quarter 2018
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September 2018 vs. September 2017 |
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Indicator |
September 2018 |
September 2017 |
% Change |
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Wagering on U.S. Races* |
$854,597,901 |
$811,625,290 |
+5.29% |
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U.S. Purses |
$116,256,156 |
$109,434,680 |
+6.23% |
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U.S. Race Days |
424 |
449 |
-5.57% |
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U.S. Races |
3,472 |
3,604 |
-3.66% |
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U.S. Starts |
26,170 |
27,942 |
-6.34% |
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Average Field Size |
7.54 |
7.75 |
-2.78% |
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Average Wagering Per Race Day |
$2,015,561 |
$1,807,629 |
+11.50% |
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Average Purses Per Race Day |
$274,189 |
$243,730 |
+12.50% |
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3rd QTR 2018 vs. 3rd QTR 2017 |
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Indicator |
3rd QTR 2018 |
3rd QTR 2017 |
% Change |
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Wagering on U.S. Races* |
$2,977,224,961 |
$2,949,613,738 |
+0.94% |
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U.S. Purses |
$333,585,225 |
$326,850,103 |
+2.06% |
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U.S. Race Days |
1,415 |
1,478 |
-4.26% |
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U.S. Races |
11,257 |
11,699 |
-3.78% |
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U.S. Starts |
83,144 |
88,107 |
-5.63% |
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Average Field Size |
7.39 |
7.53 |
-1.93% |
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Average Wagering Per Race Day |
$2,104,046 |
$1,995,679 |
+5.43% |
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Average Purses Per Race Day |
$235,749 |
$221,144 |
+6.60% |
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YTD 2018 vs. YTD 2017 |
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Indicator |
YTD 2018 |
YTD 2017 |
% Change |
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Wagering on U.S. Races* |
$8,843,244,840 |
$8,506,820,131 |
+3.95% |
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U.S. Purses |
$849,157,835 |
$823,555,748 |
+3.11% |
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U.S. Race Days |
3,496 |
3,621 |
-3.45% |
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U.S. Races |
28,653 |
29,560 |
-3.07% |
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U.S. Starts |
215,890 |
224,305 |
-3.75% |
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Average Field Size |
7.53 |
7.59 |
-0.70% |
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Average Wagering Per Race Day |
$2,529,532 |
$2,349,301 |
+7.67% |
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Average Purses Per Race Day |
$242,894 |
$227,439 |
+6.80% |
| * Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races. | |||