For the second consecutive season, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a shortened season, as the 2021 Woodbine Thoroughbred meet did not begin until June 12. Originally scheduled for 133 race dates, the 2021 season included 99 race days, three more than last year, and 946 races contested.

Despite the delayed start, the 2021 season topped $500 million in all-sources handle, propelled mightily by Woodbine's highest single-season foreign wagering handle ever of $420,666,755.

The strong foreign numbers can be attributed to enticing and consistent field sizes, as Woodbine averaged 9.0 starters per-race to rank as one of North America's leading racetracks in the category.

“Growing and strengthening the Woodbine brand across North America has been a focal point of our day-to-day activities over the past several years,” said Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment. “We're proud of our success in this area, as it's evident these efforts continue to raise the profile of our world-class racing product at Woodbine.

“Although our gains in the US are considerable, we're intently focused on revitalizing wagering in our home market area for 2022. Through evolving restrictions, we now have our racetracks and off-track locations operating, while also sporting our largest number of HPIbet users ever. Our task now is to leverage all options available in 2022 to push this area towards sustainability.”

The impressive average field size of 9.0 helped push a 4.8 per cent increase in average per-race handle, which came in at $534,194 for 2021.

“Our racing team did a great job in creating appealing and competitive races throughout the entire season,” said Lawson. “The support of the owners and trainers through these hard times deserves recognition and our commitment to providing the best overall experience to those racing at Woodbine will only heighten in 2022.”

Key Highlights of 2021:

• Record foreign wagering handle of $420,666,755 for the 2021 season
• Third highest all-sources wagering handle of $505,348,339 for 2021 season
• Record handle for a Ricoh Woodbine Mile card of $13,856,030 on Saturday, September 18
• Record handle for a closing day card of $8,530,593 on Sunday, December 5
• Second highest handle for a Queen's Plate card of $16,122,170 on Sunday, August 22, up 11 per cent over 2020 event
• Total of 241 races contested over Turf Courses, generating average per-race handle of $577,895

The 2022 Woodbine Thoroughbred season is tentatively scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 16. A total of 133 race-dates are on the schedule, headlined by the 163^rd running of The Queen's Plate on Sunday, August 21.

The post Foreign Gains, Average Field Size Of 9 Starters Push Woodbine To Third-Highest Season Handle appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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There were four winning tickets last week in the Stronach 5 with each returning $98,311. The popular wager had a carryover of $78,823.

The Stronach 5 begins at approximately 4:07 ET with a field of 12 allowance runners going 5 ½ furlongs on the turf at Laurel Park. Montauk Daddy gets the rail for trainer Rob Atras and jockey Charlie Marquez. Fourth over a “good turf” at Monmouth Park last out, the 4-year-old son of Daddy Long Legs won consecutive races this summer sprinting on the turf and dirt at Saratoga. Hard to Be Humble just missed last out at the distance and surface for trainer Hugh McMahon. Irish Mias hasn't raced in a year for trainer Graham Motion, but as a 3-year-old was beaten just four lengths in the Saranac (G3) and three in the Kitten's Joy (G3).

The Stronach 5 stays in Maryland for the second leg. Laurel's ninth race, a starter allowance for 3-year-olds and up at seven furlongs, Kingston Pike has had some tough luck his last two starts under jockey Grant Whitacre. The 6-year-old finished second Sept. 26 despite stumbling at the break and was placed third in his last after being checked at the eighth pole. Whitacre remains aboard for trainer Mario Serey Jr. Sneakiness arrives at Laurel after racing at Parx and Monmouth this summer. The 5-year-old has finished first or second in five of his last six starts. Rock and Fellers likes to show speed and goes for his fourth win in his last five starts.

The action shifts to California for the third leg of the Stronach 5. Santa Anita's third leg features 11 maidens, 3 and up, at 1 1/16 miles. After finishing eighth on the turf last out, Mayhem and Chaos drops in company and returns to the main track, where he finished second Sept. 24 at Los Alamitos against $40,000 claimers. The son of Union Rags will also be equipped with blinkers for trainer Ron Ellis. Mongol Altai will try to find the winner's circle in his 18th try after finishing second in both of his last starts. Big Well returns from a two-month layoff for Ryan Hanson. The first and third finishers from his last race at Del Mar both returned to win. Flavien Prat gets the mount.

Gulfstream's ninth race serves as the fourth leg of the Stronach 5. The 5 ½ furlong maiden claiming event drew a dozen 2-year-old fillies including Greatest Glory, claimed last time out by Jorge Delgado, who is 28-percent first off the claim and 31-percent in maiden claimers. Chantal Sutherland gets the ride. Mi. Tallawah and La Bokaina make their second starts after finishing third in their debut. Trainer Antonio Sano will saddle first-time starter Hannita's Empire. Edgard Zayas has the mount.

The Stronach 5 wraps up at Golden Gate Fields with the third race, another maiden race, this one a maiden special weight, for 2-year-old fillies at 5 ½ furlongs. Delia Mo, a daughter of Outwork, will try to break her maiden in her fourth race. She finished fifth in September against maiden special weight company at Los Alamitos and enters this race off a second-place finish at Fresno. Jonathan Wong sends out first-time starter Midnight's Girl as does Jamey Thomas with Don't Tell Hydee. Gold Rush Gal comes into the race off a second-place finish against restricted company Oct. 2 at Golden Gate.

Friday's races and sequence

Leg One –Laurel Race 8: (12 entries, 5 ½ furlongs turf) 4 :07 ET, 1:07 PT
Leg Two – Laurel Race 9: (9 entries, 7 furlongs) 4:39 ET, 1:39 PT
Leg Three –Santa Anita Race 3: (11 entries, 1 1/16 mile) 5:02 ET, 2:02 PT
Leg Four – Gulfstream Race 9: (12 entries, 5 ½ furlongs) 5:06 ET, 2:06 PT
Leg Five –Golden Gate Race 3: (8 entries, 5 ½ furlongs) 5:20 ET, 2:20 PT

Fans can watch and wager on the action at 1/ST.COM/BET as well as stream all the action in English and Spanish at LaurelPark.com, SantaAnita.com, GulfstreamPark.com, and GoldenGateFields.com.

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

The post Friday’s Stronach 5 Features Average Field Size Of 10 Entrants appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The economic indicators show a mixed bag of results, with July wagering up by 0.33 percent compared to July 2020 despite the addition of nearly 12 percent more racing days and 7.65 percent more races.

Wagering numbers undoubtedly were tempered by the nearly nine percent decline in average field size in July 2021, 6.95 horses per race compared with 7.62 in 2020. That contributed to a 10 percent decline in average wagering per race day. With fewer race days in July 2020 and for the first seven months of the year due to COVID shutdowns of some tracks, field size was greater in 2020.

Despite the stagnant July wagering, total purses jumped by more than 22 percent, with average purses per race day up by almost 10 percent.

Comparisons to July 2019 appear more favorable, with wagering up by almost 17 percent despite an eight percent drop in race days and starts. Average field size declined by 2.33 percent from July 2019 to July 2021.

Year-to-date figure comparisons to both 2020 and 2019 tell a similar story: wagering  is up double digits, but average field size has declined (though by less than one percent compared to 2019 year-to-date when there were 10 percent more race days). Total purses are up year-to-date by 51 percent compared to 2020 where there were 36 percent fewer races but they are down by 3.35 percent compared with 2019.

2019 Comparisons:

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

The post Equibase Economic Indicators For July: Decline In Field Size Affecting Wagering appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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