Tag: The Biz

Robust wagering at Saratoga and Del Mar, two of the year's premier race meets that each kick off in July, contributed toward a 3.93 percent increase in monthly betting over July 2021, according to the most recent statistics provided by Equibase, the industry's official database.

Both Saratoga, which began its season on July 14, and Del Mar, opening a week later than usual  this year on July 22, have reported increases in daily average wagering in the early stages of their respective meets.

For comparison's sake, Saratoga ran 14 days in July 2022 vs. 13 in July 21. Del Mar, on the other hand, ran nine dates in July 2021 vs. seven this year. July 2022 had 10 weekend days when wagering is highest while July 2021 had nine. Average field size in July was virtually unchanged from 2021, at just under seven horses per race.

Purses remain strong, increasing by 12.86 percent from July 2021 to July 2022.

Comparing July 2022 and 2022 year-to-date statistics to the pre-pandemic year of 2019, the increases are significant in wagering and purses, with 20 percent-plus rises in both July and year-to-date stats. Year to date, there have been 8.46 percent fewer races run compared to 2019, but even with that decline average field size has shrunk, going from 7.40 for 2019 year to date to 7.19 in 2022.

July 2022 vs. July 2021
Indicator	July 2022	July 2021	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$1,144,419,071	$1,101,174,291	+3.93%
U.S. Purses	$124,719,989	$110,511,273	+12.86%
U.S. Race Days	453	445	+1.80%
U.S. Races	3,535	3,531	+0.11%
U.S. Starts	24,524	24,527	-0.01%
Average Field Size	6.94	6.95	-0.13%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,526,311	$2,474,549	+2.09%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$275,320	$248,340	+10.86%

 

 

YTD 2022 vs. YTD 2021
Indicator	YTD 2022	YTD 2021	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$7,409,456,622	$7,378,208,912	+0.42%
U.S. Purses	$713,426,589	$625,662,965	+14.03%
U.S. Race Days	2,382	2,326	+2.41%
U.S. Races	19,405	19,322	+0.43%
U.S. Starts	139,538	141,825	-1.61%
Average Field Size	7.19	7.34	-2.03%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,110,603	$3,172,059	-1.94%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$299,507	$268,987	+11.35%

 

2020 Comparisons:

July 2022 vs. July 2020
Indicator	July 2022	July 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$1,144,419,071	$1,098,021,143	+4.23%
U.S. Purses	$124,719,989	$90,220,894	+38.24%
U.S. Race Days	453	398	+13.82%
U.S. Races	3,535	3,280	+7.77%
U.S. Starts	24,524	24,984	-1.84%
Average Field Size	6.94	7.62	-8.92%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,526,311	$2,758,847	-8.43%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$275,320	$226,686	+21.45%
YTD 2022 vs. YTD 2020
Indicator	YTD 2022	YTD 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$7,409,456,622	$6,152,548,050	+20.43%
U.S. Purses	$713,426,589	$414,389,542	+72.16%
U.S. Race Days	2,382	1,699	+40.20%
U.S. Races	19,405	14,186	+36.79%
U.S. Starts	139,538	113,058	+23.42%
Average Field Size	7.19	7.97	-9.77%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,110,603	$3,621,276	-14.10%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$299,507	$243,902	+22.80%

2019 Comparisons:

July 2022 vs. July 2019
Indicator	July 2022	July 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$1,144,419,071	$942,243,633	+21.46%
U.S. Purses	$124,719,989	$103,342,574	+20.69%
U.S. Race Days	453	484	-6.40%
U.S. Races	3,535	3,742	-5.53%
U.S. Starts	24,524	26,612	-7.85%
Average Field Size	6.94	7.11	-2.45%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,526,311	$1,946,784	+29.77%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$275,320	$213,518	+28.94%

 

YTD 2022 vs. YTD 2019
Indicator	YTD 2022	YTD 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$7,409,456,622	$6,615,017,905	+12.01%
U.S. Purses	$713,426,589	$647,344,706	+10.21%
U.S. Race Days	2,382	2,588	-7.96%
U.S. Races	19,405	21,199	-8.46%
U.S. Starts	139,538	156,851	-11.04%
Average Field Size	7.19	7.40	-2.81%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,110,603	$2,556,035	+21.70%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$299,507	$250,133	+19.74%

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

The post Economic Indicators: Strong Saratoga, Del Mar Starts Boost Handle appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A Washington Post reporter attending unregulated, bush league Quarter Horse racing at Georgia's Rancho El Centenario observed two different trainers injecting their runners on the track, immediately before competing. One syringe was tested at Industrial Laboratories: it contained methamphetamine and methylphenidate (Ritalin).

One of those trainers claimed that the injection contained “medicine to prevent a horse from suffering a stroke or a heart attack.” Mary Scollay, executive director of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, told the Post that there is “no reason to inject a horse immediately before a race other than to influence its performance.”

Post reporters also witnessed the day's leading jockey wearing an electrical shock device on his wrist.

Rancho El Centenario is the location at which former top Quarter Horse jockey Roman Chapa suffered serious injuries. Chapa, banned for five years in 2015 after being caught at Sam Houston with an electrical device for the third time, passed away after injuries suffered at the Georgia bush track in 2021.

Bush league racing has apparently been profitable enough to draw away some of the top competitors from the regulated side of the sport. Trump My Record, who won nearly $800,000 racing in regulated contests as a juvenile in 2019, was auctioned for $460,000 and reappeared at bush tracks shortly thereafter. A publicity poster from Rancho El Centenario's Facebook page shows Trump My Record is expected to race there later this month.

An undercover investigation of Rancho El Centenario conducted by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, carried out over eight visits between June 2021 and April 2022, resulted in hidden camera footage purported to show widespread doping, the use of electric shock devices, fatal horse breakdowns, jockey injuries and death, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal gambling at Rancho El Centenario.

Tests on syringes used to inject the horses, collected by PETA, found cocaine, methamphetamine, methylphenidate (Ritalin), and caffeine.

Read more at the Washington Post.

The post Washington Post: Meth, Other Stimulants Found In Bush League Quarter Horse Racing Cocktails appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Plans for the special one-day Arlington Million Day program at Churchill Downs Racetrack on Saturday, Aug. 13 remain on course. The stand-alone 11-race program at the Louisville racetrack will now feature nine races on dirt and two centerpiece events on turf: the Arlington Million and Beverly D.

The previously announced $300,000 Secretariat (Grade 2) for 3-year-olds at one mile on turf and $200,000 Pucker Up (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf have been placed on hiatus.

“While our new Bermuda-hybrid turf course continues to mature to its ultimate potential, we are being appropriately conservative by limiting the number of races in the best interest of long term preservation of the surface and growing root system,” said Churchill Downs Racetrack President Mike Anderson. “The course is healthy and vibrant and we are extremely optimistic about its performance now and in the future. However, we don't want any setbacks to its progression, especially right now during its critical growth season. Our plan is to take advantage of the width and versatility of the new course and run the two marquee races – the Arlington Million and Beverly D. – in two separate running lanes to provide fresh ground for each important race.”

The 32^nd running of the $500,000 Beverly D. (G1) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf – a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” event for the Filly & Mare Turf division – will be staged early in the 11-race card and be run in Lane 3, 24 feet off the inside rail with up to 12 runners.

The featured 39^th running of the $1 million Arlington Million (G1) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on turf will be run late in the program from Lane 1 with a maximum of 14 entrants.

In addition to the Arlington Million and Beverly D., there will be two other stakes races on dirt: the $200,000 Fort Larned for 3-year-olds at 1 3/16 miles and the $200,000 Lady Tak for fillies and mares at six furlongs.

Entries for the Aug. 13 card will be taken Tuesday.

Thanks to cooperation from Ellis Park, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and Kentucky horsemen, Churchill Downs Racetrack is hosting the Arlington Million and Beverly D. for the first time. They were previously run at Arlington Park until the racetrack closed in 2021.

Gates at Churchill Downs on Aug. 13 will open at 11:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) and the first of 11 races will be 12:45 p.m. The final race is scheduled for 6:25 p.m.

All races will be televised live as part of NYRA and FOX Sports' Saratoga Live programming on FS1 from 12:30-3 p.m., FS2 from 3-6 p.m. and FS1 from 6-7 p.m.

Tickets for general admission and first floor seating are $14. Reserved seating starts at $17 and reserved dining starts at $82. To purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com/tickets.

On-track special events include a one-day, live money handicapping contest that will award horseplayers prize money and coveted berths to the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge; between-race musical performances from the Kentucky Derby Winner's Circle presentation stand by Louisville's renowned rhythm and blues and jazz artist Robbie Bartlett; and special Chicago-inspired concessions, including Chicago Dog, Italian Beef Sandwich, Polish Sausage and Shaved Italian Ice. For more information, go to www.churchilldowns.com/calendar/2022-08-13.

The post ‘We Don’t Want Any Setbacks’: Two Arlington Million Undercard Stakes Canceled As Churchill Turf Recovers appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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