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Economic Indicators: Average Handle, Purses Up As Race Numbers Decline

Equibase, North American racing's official database, has released its September and Third Quarter 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.

Though total wagering trended up by 2.68 percent in September of 2022 versus that of the same month last year, the year-to-date figures show that wagering dollars for the first nine months of 2022 are up just 0.48 percent.

However, the total number of races held in September dropped by 160 from 2021 to 2022, and average handle per race day improved by 7.00 percent during the month.

Field size continues to be a struggling metric. The year-to-date numbers are down to 7.19 starters per race versus 7.27 over the first nine months of 2021, while the third quarter numbers are a bit worse, showing an average field size of 7.09 starters as compared to 7.65 in third quarter of 2021.

Purses, on the other hand, continue to improve. The lucrative Kentucky Downs meet in early September helped to boost the month's purses by 6.96 percent over the same month in 2021; year-to-date, purses are up 11.52 percent.

September 2022 vs. September 2021
Indicator	September 2022	September 2021	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$936,206,774	$911,734,704	+2.68%
U.S. Purses	$138,277,267	$129,279,561	+6.96%
U.S. Race Days	404	421	-4.04%
U.S. Races	3,205	3,365	-4.75%
U.S. Starts	23,184	24,107	-3.83%
Average Field Size	7.23	7.16	+0.97%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,317,344	$2,165,641	+7.00%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$342,270	$307,077	+11.46%

3rd QTR 2022 vs. 3rd QTR 2021
Indicator	3rd QTR 2022	3rd QTR 2021	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$3,275,502,012	$3,218,160,111	+1.78%
U.S. Purses	$393,292,695	$365,402,287	+7.63%
U.S. Race Days	1,294	1,321	-2.04%
U.S. Races	10,140	10,436	-2.84%
U.S. Starts	71,936	73,324	-1.89%
Average Field Size	7.09	7.03	+0.97%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,531,300	$2,436,155	+3.91%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$303,936	$276,610	+9.88%

YTD 2022 vs. YTD 2021
Indicator	YTD 2022	YTD 2021	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$9,540,539,563	$9,495,194,731	+0.48%
U.S. Purses	$981,999,594	$880,553,979	+11.52%
U.S. Race Days	3,223	3,202	+0.66%
U.S. Races	26,010	26,227	-0.83%
U.S. Starts	186,950	190,622	-1.93%
Average Field Size	7.19	7.27	-1.11%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,960,143	$2,965,395	-0.18%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$304,685	$275,001	+10.79%

2020 Comparisons:

September 2022 vs. September 2020
Indicator	September 2022	September 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$936,206,774	$1,040,000,472	-9.98%
U.S. Purses	$138,277,267	$110,307,205	+25.36%
U.S. Race Days	404	365	+10.68%
U.S. Races	3,205	3,101	+3.35%
U.S. Starts	23,184	24,447	-5.17%
Average Field Size	7.23	7.88	-8.24%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,317,344	$2,849,316	-18.67%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$342,270	$302,212	+13.26%

3rd QTR 2022 vs. 3rd QTR 2020
Indicator	3rd QTR 2022	3rd QTR 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$3,275,502,012	$3,292,016,515	-0.50%
U.S. Purses	$393,292,695	$305,067,601	+28.92%
U.S. Race Days	1,294	1,208	+7.12%
U.S. Races	10,140	9,989	+1.51%
U.S. Starts	71,936	76,402	-5.85%
Average Field Size	7.09	7.65	-7.25%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,531,300	$2,725,179	-7.11%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$303,936	$252,539	+20.35%

YTD 2022 vs. YTD 2020
Indicator	YTD 2022	YTD 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$9,540,539,563	$8,346,543,422	+14.31%
U.S. Purses	$981,999,594	$629,236,249	+56.06%
U.S. Race Days	3,223	2,509	+28.46%
U.S. Races	26,010	20,895	+24.48%
U.S. Starts	186,950	164,476	+13.66%
Average Field Size	7.19	7.87	-8.69%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,960,143	$3,326,641	-11.02%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$304,685	$250,792	+21.49%

2019 Comparisons:

September 2022 vs. September 2019
Indicator	September 2022	September 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$936,206,774	$801,998,134	+16.73%
U.S. Purses	$138,277,267	$118,229,293	+16.96%
U.S. Race Days	404	412	-1.94%
U.S. Races	3,205	3,329	-3.72%
U.S. Starts	23,184	25,231	-8.11%
Average Field Size	7.23	7.58	-4.56%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,317,344	$1,946,597	+19.05%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$342,270	$286,964	+19.27%

3rd QTR 2022 vs. 3rd QTR 2019
Indicator	3rd QTR 2022	3rd QTR 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$3,275,502,012	$2,921,407,748	+12.12%
U.S. Purses	$393,292,695	$349,864,886	+12.41%
U.S. Race Days	1,294	1,411	-8.29%
U.S. Races	10,140	11,097	-8.62%
U.S. Starts	71,936	80,738	-10.90%
Average Field Size	7.09	7.28	-2.49%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,531,300	$2,070,452	+22.26%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$303,936	$247,955	+22.58%

YTD 2022 vs. YTD 2019
Indicator	YTD 2022	YTD 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$9,540,539,563	$8,594,182,019	+11.01%
U.S. Purses	$981,999,594	$893,867,018	+9.86%
U.S. Race Days	3,223	3,515	-8.31%
U.S. Races	26,010	28,554	-8.91%
U.S. Starts	186,950	210,977	-11.39%
Average Field Size	7.19	7.39	-2.72%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,960,143	$2,445,002	+21.07%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$304,685	$254,301	+19.81%

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

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Gulfstream Boosts Purses For Championship Meet; Maiden Special Weights Run For $84,000

Gulfstream Park announced today significant purse increases for maiden special weight and allowance races for the 2022-2023 Championship Meet, which will get under way Dec. 26, as well as substantial purse increases for the same conditions during the current Sunshine Meet from Dec. 1 through Dec. 24.

Gulfstream's Championship Meet will once again feature Pegasus World Cup Day with the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), $1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), and $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G3), as well as the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) April 1 and $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) March 4.

Maiden special weight purses will total $84,000 (including $14,000 from FTHA-FOA) beginning opening day of the Championship Meet Dec. 26 – an increase of $24,000. Allowance races will total $86,000-$88,000 (including $14,000 from FTHA-FOA) – an increase of $25,000.

The Sunshine Meet's December calendar will see maiden special weight purses total $70,000 ($10,000 from FTHA-FOA) and allowance purses total between $71,000-$73,000 ($10,000 from FTHA-FOA). Increases will be $10,000.

December will also mark the start of racing on Gulfstream's new turf course, which has been enhanced with new drainage and irrigation systems.

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Rich Strike Owner May File Protest Over Hot Rod Charlie’s Footwear In Lukas Classic

As if the Grade 2 Lukas Classic on Oct. 1 at Churchill Downs didn't have enough controversy with the fighting finish between winner Hot Rod Charlie and jockey Tyler Gaffalione and runner-up Rich Strike and jockey Sonny Leon … there's more.

On Tuesday, a trainer who had no horse in the Lukas Classic distributed photos to various parties, including the Paulick Report, of Hot Rod Charlie that purported to show a toe grab on a front shoe, which would be a violation of Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority regulations.

The Paulick Report asked a Kentucky-based farrier not involved with either horse to look at the images, and he said they were inconclusive.

Trainer Eric Reed felt otherwise after seeing the photos, telling Horseracingnation – which first reported the controversy – that Hot Rod Charlie's opponents had an “unfair disadvantage.”

“It's very disappointing,” Reed told Paulick Report.

The trainer said owner Richard Dawson was having fellow horse owner Jerry Jamgotchian – no stranger to litigation himself – file a protest on his behalf, but wasn't sure it had yet been submitted to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission as of late Tuesday afternoon.

HISA rule 2276 prohibits traction devices in the forelimb, including but not limited to rims, toe grabs, bends, jar calks and stickers. In late July, HISA altered its original traction device ban on both fore and hind limbs to permit either a full outer rim shoe (up to 4 mm in height) or a toe grab (up to 4 mm in height) on the hind limbs for dirt races. Rule 2276 does not say whether violations may result in disqualification.

Prior to the creation of HISA, the Kentucky commission already had a ban on front limb toe grabs.

Hot Rod Charlie's trainer, Doug O'Neill, could not be reached by telephone and did not respond to an email. Hot Rod Charlie has been based at Keeneland the last several months.

Reed was proud of Rich Strike's effort in his best race since shocking the racing world with an 80-1 upset of the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.

“He's getting better, but still has a lot to learn. He's still green,” the trainer said.

Reed defended jockey Leon's actions in deep stretch, when head-on video showed him leaning on Hot Rod Charlie and elbowing Gaffalione, at one point losing his balance and falling to his left. Leon claimed the saddle slipped to the left, causing the incident, but stewards suspended him 15 days, saying he “intentionally” tried to interfere with Hot Rod Charlie.

“The saddle did slip,” said Reed. “He rides kind of ugly the way he moves his arms, but it was race riding; he was just trying to win the race.”

Reed said there will not be a change in jockeys for Rich Strike's next start.

“That's not going to happen,” he said.

Additional photos of Hot Rod Charlie's forelimbs from Coady Photography.

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Houston Racing Festival To Remain On Sam Houston’s 2023 Stakes Schedule

Live racing returns on Friday, January 6, 2023 with several changes planned for its 43-day Thoroughbred meet. The Thoroughbred meet will feature afternoon racing on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00 pm (Central). Holiday Monday racing, also at 1:00 pm, will take place on Martin Luther King Day and President's Day.

The Houston Racing Festival highlights the stakes schedule and will be contested on Saturday, January 28 with a 1:00 pm first post. The 2023 edition will offer five stakes races, anchored by the $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic (G3) and the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf (G3). The $100,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile, $100,000 Bara Lass and $100,000 Groovy Stakes will be included on the undercard.

Frank Hopf, Sam Houston Race Park's Assistant General Manager, looks forward to welcoming Houston horseplayers and new fans to the northwest Houston racetrack.

“The new schedule and start times present an opportunity to engage with our loyal simulcast guests and attract new fans with daytime racing,” said Hopf. “Moving our stakes races and promotions to the afternoons will provide new opportunities for everyone.”

2023 Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred Stakes Schedule

Saturday, January 7, 2023

$75,000 Darby's Daughter 3yo F- 5.5 Furlongs

$75,000 My Dandy 3yo C&G- 5.5 Furlongs

Saturday, January 28, 2023 Houston Racing Festival

$300,000 Houston Ladies Classic (G3) 4&up F&M- 1 1/16 Mile

$200,000 John B. Connally Turf (G3) 4&up- 1 1/2 Mile (T)

$100,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile 3yo- 1 Mile (T)

$100,000 Bara Lass Stakes 3yo Texas-bred Fillies- 6 Furlongs

$100,000 Groovy Stakes 3yo Texas-bred- 6 furlongs

Saturday, February 18, 2023 Texas Preview Day for Texas-breds

$75,000 Jim's Orbit 3yo C&G- 6 Furlongs

$75,000 Two Altazano 3yo F- 6 Furlongs

$75,000 H-Town 4yo & up- 7 Furlongs

$75,000 Miss Bluebonnet Turf 4&up F&M- 1 Mile (T)

$75,000 Houston Turf 4&up- 1 1/16 Miles (T)

Saturday, March 25, 2023 Texas Champions Day for Texas-breds

$100,000 Richard King 4&up- 1 1/8 Mile (T)

$100,000 San Jacinto 4&up F&M- 1 1/16 Mile (T)

$100,000 Spirit of Texas 4&up- 6 Furlongs

$100,000 Yellow Rose Stakes 4&up F&M- 6 furlongs

$100,000 Star of Texas 4&up- 1 Mile

$100,000 TTA Derby 3yo C&G- 1 Mile and 70 yards

$100,000 TTA Oaks 3yo F- 1 Mile and 70 yards

Bart Lang will serve as Director of Racing for the 2023 live racing season including the 25-day Sam Houston Race Park Quarter Horse meet which will run from Friday, April 21 through Saturday, June 17. Post time for the Quarter Horse season will be 6:15 pm. Stall applications for the upcoming Thoroughbred live racing season are due by Wednesday, November 10.

Sam Houston Race Park is Houston's premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles from downtown Houston. The Park offers a variety of attractions including a Suite Level featuring luxurious suites overlooking the racetrack and accommodating groups from 20 to 300 people, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner's Circle Restaurant and the Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming live racing, shows, events and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.

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