Field Size: Two Dozen Tracks Top 8 Per Race
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As 2014 came to a close, fewer than 25 United States racetracks were able to field more than eight horses per races, according to a review of statistics. And the top two tracks on the list each raced only five programs.
Kentucky Downs, at 10.18 horses per race, and Atlantic City Race Course, with 9.67, topped the list, according to The Jockey Club Information Systems stats. Only one other track—Remington Park (9.29)—had nine or more starters per Thoroughbred race.
After Kentucky Downs and Atlantic City, both of which offer only turf racing, and Remington, the top 10 was rounded out by Oaklawn Park (8.96); Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino (8.90); Delta Downs Racetrack, Casino & Hotel (8.87); Keeneland and New Meadowlands (both at 8.75); Del Mar (8.66); Gulfstream Park West and Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino (both at 8.64); and Retama Park (8.61).
New Meadowlands also offered only grass racing during its short fall meet.
For the review, mutliple meets at one track were combined for field size purposes.
Florida and Kentucky each had three tracks or meets with field size greater than eight horses per race. In Florida, along with the Gulfstream Park West meet at Calder Casino & Race Course, Gulfstream Park averaged 8.59 and Tampa Bay Downs 8.28. Along with Kentucky Downs and Keeneland in Kentucky, Turfway Park averaged 8.55 horses per race.
A few of the meets had a day or two of live racing remaining for 2014.
Several major racetracks and meets failed to top eight horses per race, including the three NYRA tracks—Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course—Arlington International Racecourse, Churchill Downs, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, and Santa Anita Park. Monmouth Park just fell short at 7.99 horses per race, according to TJCIS.
The track with the most racing days in 2014 that cleared eight horses per race was Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, which averaged 8.06 horses per race over 192 days. Gulfstream tallied its average field size of 8.59 through 176 days of racing as of Dec. 28.
In Canada, the country's flagship track, Woodbine, averaged 8.52 horses per race over 133 programs.