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USTA Releases Year End Economic Indicators For Harness Racing

The U.S. Trotting Association released the following information this week regarding harness racing's economic indicators:

With the suspension of racing for about three months during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, total wagering at all U.S. harness tracks for the year was down by 18.39 percent from $1,424,886,558 in 2019 to $1,162,848,201, a decrease of $263,038,357.

In addition, the amount of purses distributed was down significantly by 30.82 percent. In 2020, horsemen earned a total of $304,059,115 a decrease of $135,486,904 from the $439,546,019 in 2019 purses.

The 2,358 race days in 2020 was 1,066 less than the 3,424 race days in 2019, a 31.13 percent decrease.

Despite all of the lost race days, the per race wagering average increased by 10.5 percent from $5,008 in 2019 to $5,534 in 2020.

To better understand the negative impact that the COVID-19 pandemic and the lengthy suspension of racing during 2020 had on the numbers, the economic indicators are broken down into three categories.

1. The year-to-year economic indicators for 2020 compared to 2019.

2. The “Before COVID” economic indicators before the shutdowns caused by the pandemic comparing Jan. 1 to March 22, 2020 to the same timeframe in 2019.

3. The “After COVID” economic indicators after tracks resumed racing following the shutdowns comparing June 1 to Dec. 31, 2020 to the same timeframe in 2019.

Following are the comparative economic indicators for U.S. harness racing from 2019 to 2020.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS ON U.S. RACES

YEAR-TO-YEAR COMPARISON

Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2020

2020 2019 % Change
Total Wagered $1,162,848,201 $1,424,886,558 -18.39%
Per Race avg. $45,140 $39,991 +12.87%
Per Betting Interest $5,534 $5,008 +10.50%
Purses $304,059,115 $439,546,019 -30.82%
Race Days 2,358 3,424 -31.13%

 

BEFORE COVID

Jan. 1 – March 22, 2020

2020 2019 % Change
Total Wagered $299,074,258 $315,189,172 -5.11%
Per Race avg. $52,756 $56,976 -7.41%
Per Betting Interest $6,594 $6,975 -5.46%
Purses $53,949,205 $52,804,155 +2.17%
Race Days 474 455 +4.18%

 

AFTER COVID

June 1 – Dec. 31, 2020

2020 2019 % Change
Total Wagered $844,385,389 $796,464,289 +6.02%
Per Race avg. $42,414 $35,097 +20.85%
Per Betting Interest $5,173 $4,414 +17.20%
Purses $248,668,418 $306,707,985 -18.92%
Race Days 1,866 2,339 -20.22%

 

“Obviously it was a very difficult year for everyone in harness racing, especially for our horsemen, racetracks and everyone whose employment depends on our industry,” said USTA Executive Vice President and CEO Mike Tanner. “All of them should be commended for their efforts and compliance with the required health and safety measures that allowed us to return to racing. And we'd like to thank all of our loyal harness racing fans for their continued support through tough times.”

Please note:  The information above includes U.S. and Canadian common and separate pool wagers on races contested in the U.S.

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Francia Announces Short-Term Closure Of Grass Track At Turf Paradise

Turf Paradise general manager, Vincent Francia, announced via Twitter this week that the facility's turf track would be closing for about 2 1/2 weeks starting on Dec. 7.

Francia writes that when Turf Paradise shut down in mid March of 2020, so did the watering system for the turf course. This caused a lack of Bermuda grass, which typically grows when the track is watered over the summer, and left only rye grass with no base to keep the track lush and strongly rooted. If Francia had continued to allow racing on the turf, it would soon become unusable and unsafe.

The 2021 meet at Turf Paradise has been in doubt at various times last year after lengthy and contentious negotiations between the horsemen and the racetrack. An air of uncertainty has hung over Arizona's horsemen in recent months due to ongoing disputes over simulcasting signals which have limited wagering in some places in the state.

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Free Triple Crown Fantasy Contest Now Online, Available To Fans

The following press release was distributed to media by Thoroughbred Racing Challenge:

The Thoroughbred Racing Challenge game is a free online horse racing fantasy contest tracking the 3-year-old horses, trainers and jockeys in their journey to the 2021 Triple Crown through our website at www.DerbyDuel2000.com  The game is absolutely free with some great racing collectibles as prizes — plus all important bragging rights!

Until launching online in 2020, the Thoroughbred Racing Challenge contest was a private family game conducted for more than 20 years by the Ball family.

The game was the brainchild of John W. Ball Sr., creator of the Kentucky Derby, Breeders' Cup, and Jockey Trading Card collections in the 1990s. He has generously donated a number of trading card items from his personal collection as prizes.

“The 2020 Thoroughbred Racing Challenge was a tremendous success,” said TRC commissioner John Ball. “Our players really enjoyed the competition that ended with a nose decision as the top-2 players ended up with a difference of only $1.40 in virtual winnings after 30 races. Even the players finishing off the board enjoyed the contest which provided a fun distraction during a very difficult COVID19 plagued year.”

The Thoroughbred Racing Challenge game puts you in the position of being the best jockey in the nation — you will have your pick of the best horse to “ride” in any of the prep races anywhere in the country. Your choices will be graded with “virtual payoffs” of a “$2 Win-Place-Show” mythical wager on your choice in each of the races. Competition will begin in Louisiana at the Fairgrounds with the Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 16 at Fair Grounds and end in New York with the Belmont Stakes on Saturday June 5, 2021.

With 30 races in the competition (including races from Europe, the Middle East and Japan) there's plenty of time to see the contenders for the 2021 Triple Crown in action. Not a racing fan? No worries. Thoroughbred Racing Challenge's mission is to be easy, fun and educational about all things related to the “Sport of Kings.”

Every player in the 2021 Thoroughbred Racing Challenge will have the opportunity to win two of the first-ever Secretariat “Rookie” trading cards. During the approval process for the printing of the cards in 1989 Churchill Downs would not approve the design that featured the Kentucky Derby Festival logo. Packs of three cards (one each from the three series) were already printed and ready for distribution to the media and the retail supply chain as samples. A stop presses and change in the design was the order of the day back in January of 1989. Only recently were these promotional Kentucky Derby Festival cards discovered in storage for more than 30 years. Every player in the Thoroughbred Racing Challenge 2021 will have a chance to win the cards.

To enter the competition simply login at: www.DerbyDuel2000.com and signup on the game homepage. Players can also find additional information on the Thoroughbred Racing Challenge Facebook Group page located at https://www.facebook.com/ThoroughbredRacingChallenge/ and on Twitter @DerbyDuel2000.  Join today to enter the Thoroughbred Racing Challenge and enjoy the ride.

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Economic Indicators: Average Wagering Per Race Day Increased In 2020 Despite Pandemic Challenges

Equibase, LLC released its year-end report on Economic Indicators in Thoroughbred Racing on Tuesday, Jan. 5. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Equibase has been providing monthly economic indicators advisories, but this one is for the entire year.

Equibase has provided comparisons between 2019 and 2020 as a whole as well as comparisons between certain portions of 2019 and 2020. The average wagering per race day went up by 32.69% in 2020, which could be linked to more people participating in online wagering. As expected, there was on overall decline in U.S. races, race days, and starts due to a number of tracks having to shut down throughout the year due to COVID-19 safety measures.

Alex Waldrop, President and CEO, National Thoroughbred Racing Association released the following statement:

“The horse racing community is extremely resilient as borne out by the fact that despite the widespread and negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, pari-mutuel wagering on U.S. races held steady in 2020 at nearly $11 billion. We thank both our customers and all of our essential participants on the backside and beyond for keeping the sport going and supporting the industry during what continues to be an unprecedented and challenging period, not only in the United States but around the world.”

YTD 2020 vs. YTD 2019
Indicator YTD 2020 YTD 2019 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $10,925,226,444 $11,033,824,363 -0.98%
U.S. Purses $869,774,080 $1,167,920,667 -25.53%
U.S. Race Days 3,302 4,425 -25.38%
U.S. Races 27,700 36,207 -23.50%
U.S. Starts 220,006 272,553 -19.28%
Average Field Size 7.94 7.53 +5.51%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,308,669 $2,493,520 +32.69%
Average Purses Per Race Day $263,408 $263,937 -0.20%

 

 

1st Half 2020 vs. 1st Half 2019
Indicator 1st Half 2020 1st Half 2019 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $5,055,522,519 $5,672,774,271 -10.88%
U.S. Purses $324,168,648 $544,002,132 -40.41%
U.S. Race Days 1,301 2,104 -38.17%
U.S. Races 10,906 17,457 -37.53%
U.S. Starts 88,074 130,239 -32.38%
Average Field Size 8.08 7.46 +8.25%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,885,874 $2,696,185 +44.12%
Average Purses Per Race Day $249,169 $258,556 -3.63%

 

 

2nd Half 2020 vs. 2nd Half 2019
Indicator 2nd Half 2020 2nd Half 2019 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $5,869,703,925 $5,361,050,092 +9.49%
U.S. Purses $545,605,432 $623,918,535 -12.55%
U.S. Race Days 2,001 2,321 -13.79%
U.S. Races 16,794 18,750 -10.43%
U.S. Starts 131,932 142,314 -7.30%
Average Field Size 7.86 7.59 +3.50%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $2,933,385 $2,309,802 +27.00%
Average Purses Per Race Day $272,666 $268,815 +1.43%

 

 

4th QTR 2020 vs. 4th QTR 2019
Indicator 4th QTR 2020 4th QTR 2019 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $2,576,411,336 $2,439,642,344 +5.61%
U.S. Purses $240,537,331 $274,053,649 -12.23%
U.S. Race Days 793 910 -12.86%
U.S. Races 6,805 7,653 -11.08%
U.S. Starts 55,530 61,576 -9.82%
Average Field Size 8.16 8.05 +1.42%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,248,942 $2,680,926 +21.19%
Average Purses Per Race Day $303,326 $301,158 +0.72%

 

December 2020 vs. December 2019
Indicator December 2020 December 2019 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $751,865,995 $707,728,171 +6.24%
U.S. Purses $57,535,084 $66,315,581 -13.24%
U.S. Race Days 229 252 -9.13%
U.S. Races 2,008 2,169 -7.42%
U.S. Starts 16,884 17,561 -3.86%
Average Field Size 8.41 8.10 +3.85%
Average Wagering Per Race Day $3,283,258 $2,808,445 +16.91%
Average Purses Per Race Day $251,245 $263,157 -4.53%

 

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

Charts Courtesy Equibase

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