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Approaching Final Week Of Racing, Canterbury’s 2020 Handle Already $15 Million Above 2019 Record

Canterbury Park's 53-day horse racing season will conclude with 4:00 p.m. post times on Wednesday and Thursday. Each evening, 13 thoroughbred races will be run. A total of 247 horses were entered over the two programs for an average field size of 9.5, exceeding the season average of 7.2 horses per race.

The racing season, in jeopardy this spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was postponed and subsequently shortened from the planned 65-days. The meet began June 10. Track officials abandoned weekend racing and shifted to a Monday through Thursday schedule where there would be less competition nationally for the wagering dollar. On-track business suffered as capacity was limited to 750 spectators, substantially below the 2019 average attendance of 6,592, however wagering handle soared due to the schedule change as horseplayers across the country bet on Canterbury's races in unprecedented numbers. Handle this season has already exceeded 2019's record $48 million, with $63.8 million bet during the first 51 days and an additional $4 to $5 million expected over the final two days.

“It was crucial to the Minnesota horse racing and breeding industry that Canterbury Park conduct a meet in 2020,” Vice President of Racing Andrew Offerman said. “The support and guidance of the Minnesota Racing Commission and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture was very helpful as we found a way to make racing a reality in the current environment. The horsemen have been very supportive throughout the summer and operated in a manner that kept all participants safe. The efforts of the Canterbury staff must also be acknowledged as they have put in long hours implementing our safety plans.”

Wednesday's program is highlighted by a $41,427 carryover in the 10% Takeout Pick 5 pool. The 50-cent base wager begins with the ninth race. Track officials anticipate the pool could swell to $250,000, far exceeding the average pool of nearly $75,000. Thursday features two $50,000 stakes races, the Tom Metzen HBPA Sprint and the Shakopee Juvenile.

Trainer Joel Berndt is on the cusp of winning his first leading trainer title at Canterbury, holding a 40 to 32 edge over 13-time champion Mac Robertson. Berndt has 28 horses entered, Robertson 17. Jockey Ry Eikleberry seeks his third riding title, he was best in 2014 and 2018, as he leads last year's top jockey Francisco Arrieta by five wins, 71 to 66. While the lead is daunting it is not insurmountable with Arrieta named on horses in all 26 races. Eikleberry has 22 mounts.

Limited seating remains available and tickets can be purchased in advance at www.canterburypark.com .

The post Approaching Final Week Of Racing, Canterbury’s 2020 Handle Already $15 Million Above 2019 Record appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Del Mar Wraps Up with Handle Increase; Prat Edges Rispoli for Jockey Title

During these unprecedented times of global pandemic and spectator-free stands, the 81st Del Mar summer meet wrapped up Monday with a gripping battle to the wire between Flavien Prat and Umberto Rispoli for leading jockey honors. They were tied at 49 races apiece going into the GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity, with Prat winning on Dr. Schivel (Violence) and Rispoli finishing fourth on Scooby (Fast Anna). It was the penultimate race of the meet and left Prat alone atop the rider standings with 50 wins and $2,968,918 in earnings. It marked the fourth leading jockey title at Del Mar for Prat in the last five years, who won 15 black-type events during the meet.

Trainer Peter Miller was a runaway winner of the trainer title, notching 28 wins and $1,498,472 in earnings. It was his fourth leading training title of Del Mar’s summer meet. Conditioner Phil D’Amato came in second with 20 wins. Leading owner honors went to both Reddam Racing and Hronis Racing with the former having higher earnings–$452,180–and the latter having more wins with seven.

Del Mar closed out the summer meet with an 8% increase in total wagering compared to last year, in spite of having 27 racing days in 2020 compared to the 36 days of 2019. Total wagering was $466.68 million, an increase of $34.71 million compared to the $431.98 million of 2019. Average daily handle was $17.28 million, an increase of 44% from 2019 when fans were allowed. Online wagering increased by 125% in the state of California, with out-of-state wagering growing by 65%. Del Mar was a first-time host of California’s wagering for the GI Kentucky Derby with the seaside track handing $24.8 million on the day, the fourth-highest wagering day in Del Mar’s history.

In addition, Del Mar field size increased from 8.0 runners per race last year to 8.4 runners per race this year.

“Given the extraordinary circumstances, we are very pleased with our results,” said Joe Harper, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s CEO. “The racing product was first-rate and players around the country responded in kind. It is especially gratifying that we were able to achieve positive business results while maintaining our commitment to the health and safety of our workforce and our neighbors despite the obvious challenges.”

The post Del Mar Wraps Up with Handle Increase; Prat Edges Rispoli for Jockey Title appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Economic Indicators: Average Daily Handle Stays Strong In August

Equibase, LLC released its monthly report on Economic Indicators in Thoroughbred Racing this Friday, Sept. 4. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Equibase is currently providing monthly reporting of its 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.

Wagering on U.S. races dropped a bit in August 2020 compared to the same month in 2019, down 1.92 percent, but average daily handle continues to show year-over-year increases as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on sports schedules. In August, average daily handle was up 13.50 percent in 2020 over the same period in 2019.

Year-to-date numbers show a similar trend, with average daily handle up 35.75 percent for the first eight months of 2020.

Since the Kentucky Derby has not yet been held, it will be interesting to see how much recovery the figure for year-to-date total wagering will make after this Saturday's Run for the Roses, even without fans in attendance. Currently, total annual wagering is down just 6.20 percent, which is already an improvement over last month's 6.96 percent difference.

August 2020 vs. August 2019
Indicator	August 2020	August 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$1,154,522,663	$1,177,165,980	-1.92%
U.S. Purses	$104,515,752	$128,293,370	-18.53%
U.S. Race Days	445	515	-13.59%
U.S. Races	3,607	4,026	-10.41%
U.S. Starts	26,964	28,895	-6.68%
Average Field Size	7.48	7.18	+4.16%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,594,433	$2,285,759	+13.50%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$234,867	$249,113	-5.72%

YTD 2020 vs. YTD 2019
Indicator	YTD 2020	YTD 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$7,308,988,910	$7,792,183,885	-6.20%
U.S. Purses	$518,901,054	$775,638,076	-33.10%
U.S. Race Days	2,144	3,103	-30.91%
U.S. Races	17,793	25,225	-29.46%
U.S. Starts	140,022	185,746	-24.62%
Average Field Size	7.87	7.36	+6.87%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,409,043	$2,511,178	+35.75%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$242,025	$249,964	-3.18%

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

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Record Handle for Lone Star’s Meet

A record $2.1 million in average daily handle from off-track sources was recorded at Lone Star Park for its recently concluded Thoroughbred meet. The amount marked a 131% increase from 2019. The previous comparative high of $2 million a day was in 2002, but the Texas track did average a daily all-source handle of just over $2.2 million in 2004 when hosting the Breeders’ Cup.

“With the success of this season behind us, we are eager to keep the momentum going into next year and feel the future is bright for horse racing at Lone Star Park and in Texas,” said Kent Slabotsky, Lone Star’s vice president of operations.

Field sizes also increased by over 20%, as did purses by 34%, or up to $261,000 per day. Steve Asmussen won his 13th leading trainer title at the Texas track with 50 races won worth $1,463,385 during the season. Jockey Ramon A. Vazquez was the leading rider of the meet with 58 wins totaling $1,343,946 and Mike Sisk of M and M Racing was top owner of the meet with 29 wins worth $587,235 in earnings.

Lone Star will switch over to a season of Quarter Horse racing Friday, Sept. 4.

The post Record Handle for Lone Star’s Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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