Equibase, North American racing's official database, has released its April statistics for the industry's economic indicators, including field size, wagering, and other data. With a several full cards of racing cancelled at Laurel Park due to track surface concerns, and a pair of cards cancelled at Gulfstream Park due to severe rain and flooding, there were a few significant changes this month.
April's metrics show a 2.97 percent decline in total wagering on U.S. races, a sharp drop compared to last month's 2.14 percent increase from March of 2022 to March of 2023.
With declines of 5.21 percent and 7.19 percent in February and January, respectively, that translates to a year-to-date wagering decline of 3.28 percent through the first four months of 2023. That's a slight improvement over the first three months of the year, which showed a 3.40 decline in total wagering.
Despite a 2.91 percent decline in purses from April of 2022 to April of 2023, the year-to-date purses distributed remains strong with a 5.25 percent increase.
Both the number of race days and races held showed decreases in April, leading to a year-to-date average daily wagering figure that declined 3.37 percent. That's an improved figure over the first three months of the year, which showed average daily wagering down 5.16 percent.
| April 2023 vs. April 2022 | |||
| Indicator | April 2023 | April 2022 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $1,046,596,328 | $1,078,648,120 | -2.97% |
| U.S. Purses | $100,489,691 | $103,500,621 | -2.91% |
| U.S. Race Days | 281 | 295 | -4.75% |
| U.S. Races | 2,350 | 2,498 | -5.92% |
| U.S. Starts | 17,651 | 18,321 | -3.66% |
| Average Field Size | 7.51 | 7.33 | +2.41% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $3,724,542 | $3,656,434 | +1.86% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $357,615 | $350,850 | +1.93% |
| YTD 2023 vs. YTD 2022 | |||
| Indicator | YTD 2023 | YTD 2022 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $3,746,822,848 | $3,873,828,528 | -3.28% |
| U.S. Purses | $366,523,340 | $348,252,959 | +5.25% |
| U.S. Race Days | 1,103 | 1,102 | +0.09% |
| U.S. Races | 9,327 | 9,266 | +0.66% |
| U.S. Starts | 70,630 | 69,467 | +1.67% |
| Average Field Size | 7.57 | 7.50 | +1.01% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $3,396,938 | $3,515,271 | -3.37% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $332,297 | $316,019 | +5.15% |
* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.
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