Equibase, LLC released its first monthly report of 2021 on Economic Indicators in Thoroughbred Racing on Thursday, Feb. 4. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Equibase has been providing monthly 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.
Total wagering on U.S. races was up 9.57 percent in the first month of 2021, despite the ongoing difficulties caused by the pandemic, including continued declines in total race days and purses. On another positive note, the decreases in race days and purses actually led to an increase in the average purses per race day, by 9.42 percent.
Of course, the 9.89 percent decline in race days and corresponding 5.99 percent decrease in races run also led to a slight increase in field size, 1.75 percent.
| January 2021 vs. January 2020 | |||
| Indicator | January 2021 | January 2020 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $959,602,269 | $875,765,850 | +9.57% |
| U.S. Purses | $71,102,287 | $72,116,730 | -1.41% |
| U.S. Race Days | 255 | 283 | -9.89% |
| U.S. Races | 2,211 | 2,352 | -5.99% |
| U.S. Starts | 17,879 | 18,692 | -4.35% |
| Average Field Size | 8.09 | 7.95 | +1.75% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $3,763,146 | $3,094,579 | +21.60% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $278,832 | $254,829 | +9.42% |
* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.
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