Tag: field size

Total Wagering Dips Slightly In January; Purses Show Renewed Strength To Begin 2022

Equibase, North American racing's official database, released Friday its January 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.

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.

Total wagering on U.S. races saw a slight decline in January, dropping 1.82 percent from the first month of 2021 to the first month of 2022. With the 1.57 percent increase in race days, average wagering per race day also declined by 3.34 percent.

Compared to the first months of 2020 and 2019, however, total wagering was up 7.65 percent and 19.98 percent, respectively.

U.S. purses showed renewed strength to begin 2022, up by 15.48 percent compared to the same period last year, rising above $82 million. That figure is up by 13.85 percent since 2020, and by 4.71 percent since 2019.

Field size is down by 4.12 percent over last year, and by more than two percent compared to 2020 and 2019.

January 2022 vs. January 2021
Indicator January 2022 January 2021 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $942,654,762 $960,160,298 -1.82%
U.S. Purses $82,103,062 $71,098,677 +15.48%
U.S. Race Days 259 255 +1.57%
U.S. Races 2,186 2,211 -1.13%
U.S. Starts 16,949 17,879 -5.20%
Average Field Size 7.75 8.09 -4.12%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,639,594 $3,765,335 -3.34%
Average Purses Per Race Day $317,000 $278,818 +13.69%

2020 Comparison:

January 2022 vs. January 2020
Indicator January 2022 January 2020 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $942,654,762 $875,647,020 +7.65%
U.S. Purses $82,103,062 $72,116,730 +13.85%
U.S. Race Days 259 283 -8.48%
U.S. Races 2,186 2,352 -7.06%
U.S. Starts 16,949 18,692 -9.32%
Average Field Size 7.75 7.95 -2.44%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,639,594 $3,094,159 +17.63%
Average Purses Per Race Day $317,000 $254,829 +24.40%

2019 Comparison:

January 2022 vs. January 2019
Indicator January 2022 January 2019 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $942,654,762 $785,689,337 +19.98%
U.S. Purses $82,103,062 $78,410,368 +4.71%
U.S. Race Days 259 265 -2.26%
U.S. Races 2,186 2,278 -4.04%
U.S. Starts 16,949 18,137 -6.55%
Average Field Size 7.75 7.96 -2.62%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,639,594 $2,964,865 +22.76%
Average Purses Per Race Day $317,000 $295,888 +7.14%

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Economic Indicators: U.S. Wagering Tops $12 Billion In 2021 For Highest Total Handle Since 2009

Equibase, North American racing's official database, on Wednesday released its 2021 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.

Total handle on U.S. races in 2021 topped $12 billion, reaching the highest figure since 2009. That number represents an 11.86 percent increase over wagering in 2020 ($10.9B), and an increase of 10.74 percent compared to 2019 ($11B).

By comparison, the 2009 wagering total of $12.3 billion came from a total of 49,368 races. The 2021 wagering totals were from 33,567 races, a 32 percent decline in the number of races.

“Against an extraordinarily difficult backdrop, the resiliency of Thoroughbred racing was on full display in 2021 as we concluded the year with significant growth in purses and total handle of more than $12 billion, the highest since 2009,” said Tom Rooney, president and chief executive officer of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. “We thank our customers for their ongoing support as their wagering dollars continue to fuel our industry. As we turn the page to 2022, we look forward to the beginning of a new era for U.S. Thoroughbred racing with the launch of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) and an even greater focus on equine safety and welfare and the integrity of America's oldest sport.”

Race days and starts both increased over 2020, which is expected after the pandemic shut down much of the U.S.'s live racing last year, but average field size showed a decline of 7.2 percent from 2020 to 2021. Over the same period, despite an increase of 10 percent in average purses per race day, average wagering per race day showed a 9.29 percent decline.

As compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019, however, average wagering per race day showed an over 20 percent increase in 2021 as the number of race days fell by 7.98 percent. That's despite the average field size dropping from 7.53 in 2019 to 7.37 in 2021.

Total purses showed the largest percentage increase from 2020 to 2021, up 35.77 percent and 10.09 percent per race day.

Overall, the numbers suggest the horse racing industry is recovering from the pandemic, but also that it is struggling to retain field size as foal crops have declined in numbers.

YTD 2021 vs. YTD 2020
Indicator YTD 2021 YTD 2020 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $12,218,407,637 $10,922,936,290 +11.86%
U.S. Purses $1,180,853,677 $869,771,206 +35.77%
U.S. Race Days 4,072 3,302 +23.32%
U.S. Races 33,567 27,700 +21.18%
U.S. Starts 247,416 220,006 +12.46%
Average Field Size 7.37 7.94 -7.20%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,000,591 $3,307,976 -9.29%
Average Purses Per Race Day $289,994 $263,407 +10.09%

 

1st Half 2021 vs. 1st Half 2020
Indicator 1st Half 2021 1st Half 2020 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $6,279,039,094 $5,054,526,907 +24.23%
U.S. Purses $515,151,692 $324,168,648 +58.91%
U.S. Race Days 1,881 1,301 +44.58%
U.S. Races 15,792 10,906 +44.80%
U.S. Starts 117,303 88,074 +33.19%
Average Field Size 7.43 8.08 -8.02%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,338,139 $3,885,109 -14.08%
Average Purses Per Race Day $273,871 $249,169 +9.91%

 

2nd Half 2021 vs. 2nd Half 2020
Indicator 2nd Half 2021 2nd Half 2020 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $5,939,368,543 $5,868,409,383 +1.21%
U.S. Purses $665,701,985 $545,602,558 +22.01%
U.S. Race Days 2,191 2,001 +9.50%
U.S. Races 17,775 16,794 +5.84%
U.S. Starts 130,113 131,932 -1.38%
Average Field Size 7.32 7.86 -6.82%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $2,710,803 $2,932,738 -7.57%
Average Purses Per Race Day $303,835 $272,665 +11.43%

 

4th QTR 2021 vs. 4th QTR 2020
Indicator 4th QTR 2021 4th QTR 2020 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $2,720,738,901 $2,576,392,869 +5.60%
U.S. Purses $300,299,698 $240,534,957 +24.85%
U.S. Race Days 870 793 +9.71%
U.S. Races 7,339 6,805 +7.85%
U.S. Starts 56,789 55,530 +2.27%
Average Field Size 7.74 8.16 -5.17%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,127,286 $3,248,919 -3.74%
Average Purses Per Race Day $345,172 $303,323 +13.80%

 

December 2021 vs. December 2020
Indicator December 2021 December 2020 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $808,907,627 $751,783,126 +7.60%
U.S. Purses $74,777,035 $57,534,410 +29.97%
U.S. Race Days 251 229 +9.61%
U.S. Races 2,151 2,008 +7.12%
U.S. Starts 17,257 16,884 +2.21%
Average Field Size 8.02 8.41 -4.59%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,222,740 $3,282,896 -1.83%
Average Purses Per Race Day $297,916 $251,242 +18.58%

2019 Comparisons:

YTD 2021 vs. YTD 2019
Indicator YTD 2021 YTD 2019 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $12,218,407,637 $11,033,824,363 +10.74%
U.S. Purses $1,180,853,677 $1,167,920,667 +1.11%
U.S. Race Days 4,072 4,425 -7.98%
U.S. Races 33,567 36,207 -7.29%
U.S. Starts 247,416 272,553 -9.22%
Average Field Size 7.37 7.53 -2.08%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,000,591 $2,493,520 +20.34%
Average Purses Per Race Day $289,994 $263,937 +9.87%

 

1st Half 2021 vs. 1st Half 2019
Indicator 1st Half 2021 1st Half 2019 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $6,279,039,094 $5,672,774,271 +10.69%
U.S. Purses $515,151,692 $544,002,132 -5.30%
U.S. Race Days 1,881 2,104 -10.60%
U.S. Races 15,792 17,457 -9.54%
U.S. Starts 117,303 130,239 -9.93%
Average Field Size 7.43 7.46 -0.44%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,338,139 $2,696,185 +23.81%
Average Purses Per Race Day $273,871 $258,556 +5.92%

  

2nd Half 2021 vs. 2nd Half 2019
Indicator 2nd Half 2021 2nd Half 2019 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $5,939,368,543 $5,361,050,092 +10.79%
U.S. Purses $665,701,985 $623,918,535 +6.70%
U.S. Race Days 2,191 2,321 -5.60%
U.S. Races 17,775 18,750 -5.20%
U.S. Starts 130,113 142,314 -8.57%
Average Field Size 7.32 7.59 -3.56%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $2,710,803 $2,309,802 +17.36%
Average Purses Per Race Day $303,835 $268,815 +13.03%

 

4th QTR 2021 vs. 4th QTR 2019
Indicator 4th QTR 2021 4th QTR 2019 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $2,720,738,901 $2,439,642,344 +11.52%
U.S. Purses $300,299,698 $274,053,649 +9.58%
U.S. Race Days 870 910 -4.40%
U.S. Races 7,339 7,653 -4.10%
U.S. Starts 56,789 61,576 -7.77%
Average Field Size 7.74 8.05 -3.83%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,127,286 $2,680,926 +16.65%
Average Purses Per Race Day $345,172 $301,158 +14.61%

 

December 2021 vs. December 2019
Indicator December 2021 December 2019 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $808,907,627 $707,728,171 +14.30%
U.S. Purses $74,777,035 $66,315,581 +12.76%
U.S. Race Days 251 252 -0.40%
U.S. Races 2,151 2,169 -0.83%
U.S. Starts 17,257 17,561 -1.73%
Average Field Size 8.02 8.10 -0.91%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,222,740 $2,808,445 +14.75%
Average Purses Per Race Day $297,916 $263,157 +13.21%

The post Economic Indicators: U.S. Wagering Tops $12 Billion In 2021 For Highest Total Handle Since 2009 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Foreign Gains, Average Field Size Of 9 Starters Push Woodbine To Third-Highest Season Handle

Woodbine Entertainment today announced the 2021 Thoroughbred season produced an all-sources handle of $505,348,339, the third highest season total in Woodbine Thoroughbred history.

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:

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 163rd 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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‘Horse Population Isn’t Improving’: Charles Town Approved For 220 Dates Next Year, But May Adjust Downward

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has been approved for its 2022 live racing days, with a 220-day calendar that will see next year's season kick off on Thursday, Jan. 6 at the track's standard 7:00 P.M. EST first post.

As per West Virginia state code, Charles Town is required to submit a request for at least 220 live days before attempting to adjust it downward.

While the current schedule calls for 220 live days, it's the track's hope that this will not represent the 2022 calendar in its final form.

“We are in discussions with the Charles Town HBPA on amending this calendar and it's certainly our hope to have a resolution as to what next year will look like sooner than later,” said Charles Town's Director of Racing Operations Charlie McIntosh. “The unfortunate reality is that our field size is down nearly one-half a horse compared to 2020, there are almost 300 empty stalls in our barn area currently and the situation with the horse population isn't improving.”

Charles Town has eight live days remaining in its 2021 season including this evening's program with the current year's live racing wrapping up on Dec. 18.

The post ‘Horse Population Isn’t Improving’: Charles Town Approved For 220 Dates Next Year, But May Adjust Downward appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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