Equibase, LLC released its year-end report on Economic Indicators in Thoroughbred Racing on Tuesday, Jan. 5. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Equibase has been providing monthly economic indicators advisories, but this one is for the entire year.
Equibase has provided comparisons between 2019 and 2020 as a whole as well as comparisons between certain portions of 2019 and 2020. The average wagering per race day went up by 32.69% in 2020, which could be linked to more people participating in online wagering. As expected, there was on overall decline in U.S. races, race days, and starts due to a number of tracks having to shut down throughout the year due to COVID-19 safety measures.
Alex Waldrop, President and CEO, National Thoroughbred Racing Association released the following statement:
“The horse racing community is extremely resilient as borne out by the fact that despite the widespread and negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, pari-mutuel wagering on U.S. races held steady in 2020 at nearly $11 billion. We thank both our customers and all of our essential participants on the backside and beyond for keeping the sport going and supporting the industry during what continues to be an unprecedented and challenging period, not only in the United States but around the world.”
| YTD 2020 vs. YTD 2019 | |||
| Indicator | YTD 2020 | YTD 2019 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $10,925,226,444 | $11,033,824,363 | -0.98% |
| U.S. Purses | $869,774,080 | $1,167,920,667 | -25.53% |
| U.S. Race Days | 3,302 | 4,425 | -25.38% |
| U.S. Races | 27,700 | 36,207 | -23.50% |
| U.S. Starts | 220,006 | 272,553 | -19.28% |
| Average Field Size | 7.94 | 7.53 | +5.51% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $3,308,669 | $2,493,520 | +32.69% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $263,408 | $263,937 | -0.20% |
| 1st Half 2020 vs. 1st Half 2019 | |||
| Indicator | 1st Half 2020 | 1st Half 2019 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $5,055,522,519 | $5,672,774,271 | -10.88% |
| U.S. Purses | $324,168,648 | $544,002,132 | -40.41% |
| U.S. Race Days | 1,301 | 2,104 | -38.17% |
| U.S. Races | 10,906 | 17,457 | -37.53% |
| U.S. Starts | 88,074 | 130,239 | -32.38% |
| Average Field Size | 8.08 | 7.46 | +8.25% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $3,885,874 | $2,696,185 | +44.12% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $249,169 | $258,556 | -3.63% |
| 2nd Half 2020 vs. 2nd Half 2019 | |||
| Indicator | 2nd Half 2020 | 2nd Half 2019 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $5,869,703,925 | $5,361,050,092 | +9.49% |
| U.S. Purses | $545,605,432 | $623,918,535 | -12.55% |
| U.S. Race Days | 2,001 | 2,321 | -13.79% |
| U.S. Races | 16,794 | 18,750 | -10.43% |
| U.S. Starts | 131,932 | 142,314 | -7.30% |
| Average Field Size | 7.86 | 7.59 | +3.50% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $2,933,385 | $2,309,802 | +27.00% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $272,666 | $268,815 | +1.43% |
| 4th QTR 2020 vs. 4th QTR 2019 | |||
| Indicator | 4th QTR 2020 | 4th QTR 2019 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $2,576,411,336 | $2,439,642,344 | +5.61% |
| U.S. Purses | $240,537,331 | $274,053,649 | -12.23% |
| U.S. Race Days | 793 | 910 | -12.86% |
| U.S. Races | 6,805 | 7,653 | -11.08% |
| U.S. Starts | 55,530 | 61,576 | -9.82% |
| Average Field Size | 8.16 | 8.05 | +1.42% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $3,248,942 | $2,680,926 | +21.19% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $303,326 | $301,158 | +0.72% |
| December 2020 vs. December 2019 | |||
| Indicator | December 2020 | December 2019 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $751,865,995 | $707,728,171 | +6.24% |
| U.S. Purses | $57,535,084 | $66,315,581 | -13.24% |
| U.S. Race Days | 229 | 252 | -9.13% |
| U.S. Races | 2,008 | 2,169 | -7.42% |
| U.S. Starts | 16,884 | 17,561 | -3.86% |
| Average Field Size | 8.41 | 8.10 | +3.85% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $3,283,258 | $2,808,445 | +16.91% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $251,245 | $263,157 | -4.53% |
* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.
Charts Courtesy Equibase
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