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Month: January 2023
Represented By Hall Of Famer Cordero, Jose Gomez Led All Apprentice Riders On NYRA Circuit In 2022
Apprentice jockey Jose Gomez, who rode his first mount in June 2021, closed out his 2022 campaign as the leading apprentice rider on the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit and finished in ninth-place in the overall jockeys standings. Gomez, 22, posted a NYRA record of 917-98-95-117 with total purse earnings of $5,803,684.
“It all came by surprise. I didn't expect to start out here in New York,” said Gomez. “I'm thankful for all the trainers, everybody who is a part of the team, and all the people who taught me and gave me a chance to learn even before I started riding.”
Gomez celebrated three stakes victories on the NYRA circuit, earning two starter stakes coups on the March 26 New York Claiming Championship card and a breakout score in the NYSSS Statue of Liberty aboard Golden Rocket in August at Saratoga Race Course, the first black type stakes victory of his career.
Gomez, who was born in Muskegon, M.I., moved to Pennsylvania when he was a child and spent much of his youth at Penn National Race Course, where his mother groomed horses and his father was an exercise rider. It was there that Gomez fell in love with horses and the sport.
“My mom would take me to the barn with her when I was seven and I would dump the buckets and the wheelbarrows and all that,” said Gomez. “I saw all the hard work my mom would put in and it just really spoke to me. I just have it in my blood.”
After learning the basics of riding aboard his childhood Shetland pony named Lucky, Gomez worked his way up to thoroughbreds with trainer Richard Lugovich and began galloping young horses for him. Gomez recounted several of the trainers and mentors that helped him grow to where he is now.
“Lucky taught me riding is a balance and that it's not a battle between you and them,” said Gomez. “I started getting on Thoroughbreds with Lugovich and then I started breaking babies with Jose Flores and my love of horses grew from there. I was at Arlington Park for a little before they closed and then went to Ocala and worked for Nick de Meric. I finally wound up in New Jersey with Skip Einhorn and then Kelly Breen.”
Gomez is represented by agent Angel Cordero, Jr., the Hall of Famer who won over 7,000 races, five Triple Crown events and over $164 million in purses.
Gomez said having such a legendary jockey as an agent has been a privilege.
“I want to thank Angel and Kelly Breen, who introduced him to me,” said Gomez. “Angel taught me a lot and I'm thankful for that. It gives me confidence to learn from someone like him. The biggest thing he's taught me is to come out of the gate running and to get early position.”
This summer, Gomez rode his first Saratoga meet, posting a record of 128-11-15-11 and over $927,000 in earnings. Gomez said he has enjoyed the challenge of working and learning in the most competitive jockey colony in the country.
“Honestly, I wasn't sure if I was going to go to Saratoga or not, but Angel told me if I want to be good, I've got to go where the big guys go,” said Gomez. “We went and it was a lot of work, but I'm grateful for the wins I had up there and the learning experience.”
Gomez said one of the highlights of his year at NYRA was riding two winners for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas at Saratoga.
“Riding for 'Coach' was special,” said Gomez. “I won two races for him and that was a great feeling. Angel rode for him a lot, and now I've ridden for him. It's surreal. I was a little nervous when I found out I was riding for him, but I just gave it my best effort at the end of the day.”
Beyond his NYRA record, Gomez posted an overall record of 1,312-152-163-156 in 2022, and it is likely his name appear will appear on the ballots of Eclipse Award voters as he eyes a chance at the prestigious Champion Apprentice title.
“It's been a great year for many apprentices – Jeiron Barbosa in Maryland and Vicente Del-Cid in Louisiana are great riders,” said Gomez. “Whoever wins, wins, and I'm just happy to be mentioned in the conversation.”
Finalists for the Eclipse Awards will be announced Saturday at 11:30 a.m. with the 52nd annual Eclipse Award winners' ceremony to be held Thursday, January 26 in Palm Beach, Florida.
Among Gomez's upcoming mounts at the Big A are stakes engagements on Saturday aboard Valenzan Day [post 3, 10-1] in the $150,000 Jerome for sophomores and Forewarned [post 1, 20-1] in the $150,000 Queens County for older horses. The former race will award the top-five finishers 10-4-3-2-1 qualifying points, respectively, towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on the First Saturday in May.
“I've galloped Valenzan Day and it's nice to ride him,” Gomez said. “Hopefully, we get lucky. Just seeing my name on the overnight for a race like the Jerome is a good feeling.”
Gomez has already started the year off on the right foot, guiding O'Trouble to victory in a New Year's Day claiming event at the Big A for trainer Antonio Arriaga. Gomez said his main goals in 2023 are to continue learning and improving with each mount.
“O'Trouble is my boy and I love him,” said Gomez, with a laugh. “I'm just hoping to keep going and learning – to try to win, to get better, and to make a name for myself.”
The post Represented By Hall Of Famer Cordero, Jose Gomez Led All Apprentice Riders On NYRA Circuit In 2022 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Economic Indicators: Wagering Down Slightly In 2022, Purses Reach Record High
Equibase, North American racing's official database, has released its year-end 2022 statistics for the industry's economic indicators, including field size, wagering, and other data, along with 2019 and 2020 comparables. The 2019 data is included as a pre-COVID-19 comparison.
The final numbers from 2022 show a 0.87 percent dip in total wagering: $12,108,807,335 this year, versus $12,215,598,838 in 2021.
This is the second year since 2009 that wagering has topped $12 billion. By comparison, the 2009 wagering total of $12.3 billion came from a total of 49,368 races; the 2022 wagering totals were from 33,453 races.
Wagering in December was down 7.5 percent year-over-year, a downward trend that extended to the entire fourth quarter of the year: total betting was down 5.5 percent in the last three months of the year, when compared to the same quarter in 2021.
Purses paid out in 2022 were very strong, up 10.92 percent from 2021 at a record total of $1,309,837,841.
Average field size did continue to decline, from 7.37 in 2021 to 7.30 in 2022. According to The Jockey Club statistics, that's the lowest figure on record (records go back to 1950).
“Thoroughbred racing purses and pari-mutuel handle continued to exhibit strength in 2022. Purses were up double-digits year-over year and reached an all-time high thanks in part to contributions from other gaming sources,” said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. “Pari-mutuel handle was nearly equal to 2021 and the second highest since 2009. These business trends occurred during a year of unprecedented growth in legal, state regulated sports betting. The 2023 gaming landscape promises to be more competitive than ever for the sports wagering dollar. It also represents a huge opportunity to introduce pari-mutuel wagering and the sport of Thoroughbred racing to a vast new audience if we as an industry embrace the challenge.”
Equibase is continuing to provide monthly reporting of its Economic Indicators Advisories as a service to the industry and in consideration of the economic changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Advisory is typically disseminated on a quarterly basis to provide key metrics used to measure racing's performance throughout the year.
| YTD 2022 vs. YTD 2021 | |||
| Indicator | YTD 2022 | YTD 2021 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $12,108,807,335 | $12,215,598,838 | -0.87% |
| U.S. Purses | $1,309,837,841 | $1,180,842,882 | +10.92% |
| U.S. Race Days | 4,104 | 4,072 | +0.79% |
| U.S. Races | 33,453 | 33,565 | -0.33% |
| U.S. Starts | 244,133 | 247,405 | -1.32% |
| Average Field Size | 7.30 | 7.37 | -0.99% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $2,950,489 | $2,999,901 | -1.65% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $319,161 | $289,991 | +10.06% |
| December 2022 vs. December 2021 | |||
| Indicator | December 2022 | December 2021 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $748,142,136 | $808,954,882 | -7.52% |
| U.S. Purses | $83,068,942 | $74,780,035 | +11.08% |
| U.S. Race Days | 256 | 251 | +1.99% |
| U.S. Races | 2,200 | 2,151 | +2.28% |
| U.S. Starts | 17,285 | 17,257 | +0.16% |
| Average Field Size | 7.86 | 8.02 | -2.07% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $2,922,430 | $3,222,928 | -9.32% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $324,488 | $297,928 | +8.91% |
| 4th QTR 2022 vs. 4th QTR 2021 | |||
| Indicator | 4th QTR 2022 | 4th QTR 2021 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $2,569,665,204 | $2,720,404,107 | -5.54% |
| U.S. Purses | $327,833,091 | $300,288,903 | +9.17% |
| U.S. Race Days | 881 | 870 | +1.26% |
| U.S. Races | 7,442 | 7,339 | +1.40% |
| U.S. Starts | 57,174 | 56,789 | +0.68% |
| Average Field Size | 7.68 | 7.74 | -0.72% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $2,916,760 | $3,126,901 | -6.72% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $372,115 | $345,160 | +7.81% |
2020 Comparisons:
| December 2022 vs. December 2020 | |||
| Indicator | December 2022 | December 2020 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $748,142,136 | $751,783,126 | -0.48% |
| U.S. Purses | $83,068,942 | $57,534,410 | +44.38% |
| U.S. Race Days | 256 | 229 | +11.79% |
| U.S. Races | 2,200 | 2,008 | +9.56% |
| U.S. Starts | 17,285 | 16,884 | +2.38% |
| Average Field Size | 7.86 | 8.41 | -6.56% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $2,922,430 | $3,282,896 | -10.98% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $324,488 | $251,242 | +29.15% |
| 4th QTR 2022 vs. 4th QTR 2020 | |||
| Indicator | 4th QTR 2022 | 4th QTR 2020 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $2,569,665,204 | $2,576,392,869 | -0.26% |
| U.S. Purses | $327,833,091 | $240,534,957 | +36.29% |
| U.S. Race Days | 881 | 793 | +11.10% |
| U.S. Races | 7,442 | 6,805 | +9.36% |
| U.S. Starts | 57,174 | 55,530 | +2.96% |
| Average Field Size | 7.68 | 8.16 | -5.85% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $2,916,760 | $3,248,919 | -10.22% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $372,115 | $303,323 | +22.68% |
| YTD 2022 vs. YTD 2020 | |||
| Indicator | YTD 2022 | YTD 2020 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $12,108,807,335 | $10,922,936,290 | +10.86% |
| U.S. Purses | $1,309,837,841 | $869,771,206 | +50.60% |
| U.S. Race Days | 4,104 | 3,302 | +24.29% |
| U.S. Races | 33,453 | 27,700 | +20.77% |
| U.S. Starts | 244,133 | 220,006 | +10.97% |
| Average Field Size | 7.30 | 7.94 | -8.12% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $2,950,489 | $3,307,976 | -10.81% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $319,161 | $263,407 | +21.17% |
2019 Comparisons:
| December 2022 vs. December 2019 | |||
| Indicator | December 2022 | December 2019 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $748,142,136 | $707,728,171 | +5.71% |
| U.S. Purses | $83,068,942 | $66,315,581 | +25.26% |
| U.S. Race Days | 256 | 252 | +1.59% |
| U.S. Races | 2,200 | 2,169 | +1.43% |
| U.S. Starts | 17,285 | 17,561 | -1.57% |
| Average Field Size | 7.86 | 8.10 | -2.96% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $2,922,430 | $2,808,445 | +4.06% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $324,488 | $263,157 | +23.31% |
| 4th QTR 2022 vs. 4th QTR 2019 | |||
| Indicator | 4th QTR 2022 | 4th QTR 2019 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $2,569,665,204 | $2,439,642,344 | +5.33% |
| U.S. Purses | $327,833,091 | $274,053,649 | +19.62% |
| U.S. Race Days | 881 | 910 | -3.19% |
| U.S. Races | 7,442 | 7,653 | -2.76% |
| U.S. Starts | 57,174 | 61,576 | -7.15% |
| Average Field Size | 7.68 | 8.05 | -4.52% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $2,916,760 | $2,680,926 | +8.80% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $372,115 | $301,158 | +23.56% |
| YTD 2022 vs. YTD 2019 | |||
| Indicator | YTD 2022 | YTD 2019 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $12,108,807,335 | $11,033,824,363 | +9.74% |
| U.S. Purses | $1,309,837,841 | $1,167,920,667 | +12.15% |
| U.S. Race Days | 4,104 | 4,425 | -7.25% |
| U.S. Races | 33,453 | 36,207 | -7.61% |
| U.S. Starts | 244,133 | 272,553 | -10.43% |
| Average Field Size | 7.30 | 7.53 | -3.05% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $2,950,489 | $2,493,520 | +18.33% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $319,161 | $263,937 | +20.92% |
* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.
The post Economic Indicators: Wagering Down Slightly In 2022, Purses Reach Record High appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Purses Set Record In 2022 But Handle Drops Slightly
According to figures released Thursday by Equibase, a robust $1,309,837,841 in purse money was paid out during the year in the U.S., an increase of 10.92% and an all-time record for the sport.
Total handle on U.S. racing in 2022 was $12,108,807,335, a decrease of 0.87% when compared to 2021 numbers. The total bet in 2021 was $12,215,598,838.
“Thoroughbred racing purses and pari-mutuel handle continued to exhibit strength in 2022,” NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney said in a statement. “Purses were up double-digits year-over year and reached an all-time high thanks in part to contributions from other gaming sources. Pari-mutuel handle was nearly equal to 2021 and the second highest since 2009. These business trends occurred during a year of unprecedented growth in legal, state regulated sports betting. The 2023 gaming landscape promises to be more competitive than ever for the sports wagering dollar. It also represents a huge opportunity to introduce pari-mutuel wagering and the sport of Thoroughbred racing to a vast new audience if we as an industry embrace the challenge.”
While wagering appears to be going through a period of relative stagnation, purses have never been better. The Jockey Club's Fact Book records purse data going back to 1988 when $676 million was paid out. Purses have nearly doubled since then and the 10.92% increase was the largest for the sport in a non-COVID year since the Jockey Club began collecting data.
Average purses paid out per day were $319,161, a 10.06% increase over 2021.
That purses are up in a year where handle fell is indicative of racing's increasing reliance on revenues from slot machines, Historical Horse Racing machines and other casino games. Kentucky, in particular, has seen huge increases in purses thanks to the popularity of the Historical Horse Racing Machines.
For reasons that remain unclear, betting fell significantly during the final quarter of the year and during December. Handle was off by 5.54% during the final quarter and by 7.52% in December.
Despite the drop, the news was not all bad. Handle broke the $12 billion mark for just the second time since 2009. After the betting numbers fell to $10.9 billion in 2020, when COVID-19 played havoc on racing schedules, handle was up 11.8% in 2021. Many have speculated that the increase was due to the sport attracting new customers while bettors were shut out from playing other sports during the pandemic.
The sport still has a long way to go before it can equal the type of handle figures that were being posted in the early 2000s. A record of $15.18 billion was wagered in 2003, the second year during a three-year stretch where handle eclipsed the $15 billion mark.
In the case of most other parameters, there was little movement between 2022 and 2021 figures. There were 33,453 races run during the year, a decline of just 0.33%. The total number of starts was 244,133, a drop of 1.31%. The average field size was 7.30, a slight drop from 2021 when the number was 7.37. The 7.30 number represented the smallest average field size since 1950 when the Jockey Club started keeping records.
The post Purses Set Record In 2022 But Handle Drops Slightly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
