November, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Wagering Up, Purses Down Slightly During October That Included Preakness

As a service to the industry and in consideration of the economic changes due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Equibase is currently providing monthly reporting of its Economic Indicators Advisories. The Advisory is typically disseminated on a quarterly basis to provide key metrics used to measure racing’s performance throughout the year.

October 2020 vs. October 2019
Indicator	October 2020	October 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$929,063,211	$776,071,164	+19.71%
U.S. Purses	$90,845,317	$91,981,753	-1.24%
U.S. Race Days	340	334	+1.80%
U.S. Races	2,852	2,754	+3.56%
U.S. Starts	22,410	22,176	+1.06%
Average Field Size	7.86	8.05	-2.42%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,732,539	$2,323,566	+17.60%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$267,192	$275,394	-2.98%

YTD 2020 vs. YTD 2019
Indicator	YTD 2020	YTD 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$9,277,878,319	$9,370,253,183	-0.99%
U.S. Purses	$720,074,376	$985,849,122	-26.96%
U.S. Race Days	2,849	3,849	-25.98%
U.S. Races	23,747	31,308	-24.15%
U.S. Starts	186,886	233,153	-19.84%
Average Field Size	7.87	7.45	+5.68%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,256,539	$2,434,464	+33.77%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$252,746	$256,131	-1.32%

* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.

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TBA Announces Devonshire and Dominion Award Winners

The winners of the Devonshire and Dominion bronzes were announced by the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association on Wednesday. Prominent owner/breeder Anthony Oppenheimer was awarded the Andrew Devonshire Bronze, which is awarded for outstanding achievement and contribution to the British Thoroughbred industry. The owner of Hascombe and Valiant Stud, Oppenheimer has celebrated homebreds the likes of G1 Epsom Derby hero Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and MG1SW Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}), as well as G1 Irish Oaks heroine Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), just to name a few.

“It is a great honour and I am absolutely amazed,” said Oppenheimer, who is a past TBA chairman. “It was not something that ever entered my mind that I could possibly win. I was chairman of the TBA for four years, and even then it never entered my mind that when awarding it to all of these famous people, that I would actually get this honour. It is tremendously exciting.

“I never had the ambition of winning this award but now I have won it, it is just fantastic and I am really honoured by it. My father would be absolutely thrilled if he could look down, this is very much the highlight of my life.”

Ruth Quinn received the Dominion Bronze in recognition of her contribution and long-term commitment to the improvement of the Thoroughbred through her work in race programming. Through Quinn’s efforts, there is now a revitalised staying programme, more race opportunities for Flat fillies and the creation of a comprehensive jump mares’ programme.

“It’s an honour to receive the Dominion Award,” said Quinn, who is also the BHA’s Director of International Racing and Racing Development. “Horseracing is, and has been my life and the driving, ever present reason for that is the thoroughbred. Anybody who knows me well would recognise just how strongly and passionately I feel about our collective responsibilities towards the long-term health of the thoroughbred breed.”

Added TBA Chairman Julian Richmond-Watson said, “This year’s recipients are two very worthy winners of the award. The board of trustees agreed that their long-standing contribution and commitment to the improvement of the breed should be justly rewarded and recognised. The TBA is committed to the long-term future of the industry and pays tribute to Anthony and Ruth who have dedicated considerable time and effort to the British thoroughbred.”

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Voters Approve Racetrack Casinos in Nebraska

The Nebraska horse racing industry, which has struggled for years to offer competitive purses, got a major boost Tuesday when voters overwhelmingly approved three constitutional amendments that legalize casinos at the state’s racetracks.

In other gambling related matters on the ballot across the country Tuesday, Marylanders voted in favor of legalizing sports betting in the state and voters in South Dakota approved sports betting, which would be restricted to the town of Deadwood, which already has a casino. In Louisiana, 55 of 64 parishes approved sports betting, including the four parishes that are home to the state’s racetracks, Fair Grounds, Evangeline Downs, Delta Downs and Louisiana Downs.

In order for casinos to pass in Nebraska, voters had to approve three initiatives. All three passed with nearly two out of every three voters voting in favor of the gambling expansion. Proponents of the initiatives argued that Nebraska was losing out because residents were traveling across state lines to gamble at casinos in Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Missouri. Supporters of the initiatives have said that the state will take in $65 million annually from taxes on the casino revenue. Money from the casinos will be used to reduce property taxes.

There are several racetracks in the state, a list that includes Lincoln Race Course, Horsemen’s Park, Fonner Park, Columbus, Atokad and Fair Play Park. Some of the tracks have been reduced to running one race a year, which is required to maintain a license. At Lincoln, the entire 2020 meet consisted of racing last Sunday and Monday, with each program consisting of one one-furlong race for Nebraska breds.

“We’re overwhelmingly thrilled and I couldn’t be happier,” said Lynne McNally, the executive vice president of the Nebraska HBPA. “This was a long time in the works. And what makes me even happier is that there was a clear mandate that people wanted casinos here and wanted the money to stay in the state to lower their property taxes. There are still a lot of moving parts, but once this is fully operational we will be seeing a very healthy increase in purses.”

McNally said that under current rules the Nebraska tracks are required to offer a combined 53 days of racing. She speculated that that number could double once the casino money begins to come in.

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Yorkshire Loaded For Breeders’ Cup

With trainers John Quinn, Kevin Ryan and Nigel Tinkler each fielding a runner in this weekend’s Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, there is as good a chance as ever that one of the festival’s coveted trophies will make its way back to Yorkshire, where all three are based.

Quinn sends out his first Breeders’ Cup starter in the form of Ross Harmon’s Safe Voyage (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}), and the gelding has hit his best stride this year at seven, taking Epsom’s Listed Surrey S., York’s G2 City of York S. and Leopardstown’s G2 Boomerang Mile prior to a strong third in the G1 Prix de la Foret. He lines up in Saturday’s GI Breeders’ Cup Mile.

“Early in the spring we thought the Breeders’ Cup could suit Safe Voyage,” said Quinn. “He’s got some very good form going left-handed. His best form before this season was over seven furlongs, but he dug deep when he won over a mile at Leopardstown, so the mile at Keeneland will hold no fears for him. He finished third in the Qatar Prix de la Foret at ParisLongchamp last time and has been in good form since that race at the start of October. He’s come out of that race well.”

“This is our first Breeders’ Cup runner and it’s wonderful for us,” Quinn added. “We’ve been training a long time and he has a live chance. It’s something we all aspire to.”

Ryan, meanwhile, looks to build on a second-place finish with East (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2018 at Churchill Downs. East was his first Breeders’ Cup runner, and this year Ryan has Bearstone Stud’s 2020 G1 Flying Five S. and 2019 G1 Prix de l’Abbaye winner Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead) for the GI Turf Sprint.

“The Breeders’ Cup has been on our mind all season,” Ryan said. “She won the ‘Win and You’re In’ race [the Flying Five] at The Curragh and also ran well [when second] in the Abbaye from a bad draw. She’s very versatile as far as the ground is concerned, but I think she is a better filly with some cut in the ground.”

Jumps jockey turned trainer Nigel Tinkler relies on the Listed National S. and G2 Flying Childers S. winner Ubettabelieveit (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) in Friday’s GII Juvenile Turf Sprint.

“I think he’s definitely improving. I think he’s better now than when he ran at Doncaster [in the Flying Childers],” Tinkler said. He noted he would prefer good ground at Keeneland.

“At the moment I think the ground is fine,” he added. “It does drain very well at Keeneland apparently, but soft ground would be a concern.”

Rowan Scott, who was aboard for the Flying Childers win on Sept. 11, will keep the ride.

“He’s a good lad,” Tinkler said. “Nothing really phases him, so I don’t think the occasion will be a big thing for him. He’s very level-headed and he’s young. I don’t have any qualms about putting him on.”

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