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Wagering in 2021 Remains Robust

According to figures released Tuesday by Equibase, through the first three-quarters of 2021 wagering on U.S. horse racing is up 13.8% over 2020 totals. At the end of September, $9,498,141,414 had been wagered on the sport, a sizeable increase over the comparable figure of 2020 when $8,346,543,422 had been bet.

With a strong final quarter, the amount bet on U.S. racing for the year could top $12 billion. That would be the most bet during a year since $11.4 billion was wagered in 2010.

The record for most wagered in a year was set in 2003, when $15.18 billion was bet.

The gains in 2021 were achieved despite a decline of 12.32% in September and a 23.98% decrease in the category of average wagering per race day. The September numbers were skewed by the date of last year's GI Kentucky Derby, which was rescheduled due to the pandemic and held in September. The shift in the date of the Derby also led to a 2.18% decline in handle during the third quarter.

Because of COVID-19-related shutdowns, the 2021 and 2020 numbers may not line up perfectly, but there is still plenty of evidence that wagering on the sport has been growing. Equibase also released figures comparing numbers in 2021 to the pre-COVID numbers of 2019, which also point to an upward tick in wagering. The year-to-date handle figures comparing 2021 to 2019 show a 10.52% increase, including a 10.23% increase during the third quarter and a 13.71% increase during September.

In another telling statistic, when comparing 2021 to 2019 year-to-date figures, handle has risen 21.32% in the category of average wagering per race day.

It is believed that the sport may have picked up a significant amount of new customers during the early days of the pandemic in 2020 when it was among the only betting vehicles available while the major sports were shut down.

Purses have also increased during 2021. So far this year, the average amount of purses paid out per day is $274,998, which is a 9.65% increase over 2020 totals and an 8.14% increase over 2019.
Racing did not do nearly as well when it comes to the category of average field size. The number so far for 2021 is 7.16 starters per race, down from 7.87 in 2020 for a decline of 7.67%. That also represents a 1.63% decline from 2019. The 7.16 starters per race represents the lowest number in that category since the Jockey Club began keeping records in 1950.

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Economic Indicators: Rescheduled 2020 Kentucky Derby Skews September Numbers

Equibase, North American racing's official database, released Tuesday its September 2021 statistics for the industry's economic indicators, including field size, wagering, and other data, along with year-to-date and 2019 and 2020 numbers. The database distributes 2020 and 2021 numbers and includes 2019's data for comparisons to pre-COVID-19 pandemic numbers.

Since the September of 2020 data includes that year's re-scheduled Kentucky Derby, it is no surprise that total wagering in September of 2021 is down significantly, by 12.32 percent. When compared with the year-to-date numbers, however, total wagering shows a positive trend: an increase of 13.80 percent.

Interestingly, the average wagering per race day category does show declines from the first nine months of 2020 compared to the first nine months of 2021, down over 10 percent. This is likely due to the fact that horse racing was one of the only viable sports on which wagering dollars could be spent during 2020, whereas most regular sporting events, and thus wagering on them, resumed during 2021.

When compared to the 2019 year-to-date figures, total wagering in 2021 is up 10.52 percent, a positive trend from pre-pandemic numbers. Race days and the number of races have continued to decrease, while field size is nearly steady at a decline of just 1.63 percent.

September 2021 vs. September 2020
Indicator	September 2021	September 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$911,921,042	$1,040,000,472	-12.32%
U.S. Purses	$129,274,281	$110,307,205	+17.19%
U.S. Race Days	421	365	+15.34%
U.S. Races	3,365	3,101	+8.51%
U.S. Starts	24,107	24,447	-1.39%
Average Field Size	7.16	7.88	-9.13%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,166,083	$2,849,316	-23.98%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$307,065	$302,212	+1.61%

3rd QTR 2021 vs. 3rd QTR 2020
Indicator	3rd QTR 2021	3rd QTR 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$3,220,215,555	$3,292,016,515	-2.18%
U.S. Purses	$365,390,507	$305,067,601	+19.77%
U.S. Race Days	1,321	1,208	+9.35%
U.S. Races	10,436	9,989	+4.47%
U.S. Starts	73,324	76,402	-4.03%
Average Field Size	7.03	7.65	-8.14%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,437,710	$2,725,179	-10.55%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$276,601	$252,539	+9.53%

YTD 2021 vs. YTD 2020
Indicator	YTD 2021	YTD 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$9,498,141,414	$8,346,543,422	+13.80%
U.S. Purses	$880,542,199	$629,236,249	+39.94%
U.S. Race Days	3,202	2,509	+27.62%
U.S. Races	26,228	20,895	+25.52%
U.S. Starts	190,627	164,476	+15.90%
Average Field Size	7.27	7.87	-7.67%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,966,315	$3,326,641	-10.83%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$274,998	$250,792	+9.65%

2019 Comparisons:

September 2021 vs. September 2019
Indicator	September 2021	September 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$911,921,042	$801,998,134	+13.71%
U.S. Purses	$129,274,281	$118,229,293	+9.34%
U.S. Race Days	421	412	+2.18%
U.S. Races	3,365	3,329	+1.08%
U.S. Starts	24,107	25,231	-4.45%
Average Field Size	7.16	7.58	-5.48%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,166,083	$1,946,597	+11.28%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$307,065	$286,964	+7.00%

3rd QTR 2021 vs. 3rd QTR 2019
Indicator	3rd QTR 2021	3rd QTR 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$3,220,215,555	$2,921,407,748	+10.23%
U.S. Purses	$365,390,507	$349,864,886	+4.44%
U.S. Race Days	1,321	1,411	-6.38%
U.S. Races	10,436	11,097	-5.96%
U.S. Starts	73,324	80,738	-9.18%
Average Field Size	7.03	7.28	-3.43%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,437,710	$2,070,452	+17.74%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$276,601	$247,955	+11.55%

YTD 2021 vs. YTD 2019
Indicator	YTD 2021	YTD 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$9,498,141,414	$8,594,182,019	+10.52%
U.S. Purses	$880,542,199	$893,867,018	-1.49%
U.S. Race Days	3,202	3,515	-8.90%
U.S. Races	26,228	28,554	-8.15%
U.S. Starts	190,627	210,977	-9.65%
Average Field Size	7.27	7.39	-1.63%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,966,315	$2,445,002	+21.32%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$274,998	$254,301	+8.14%

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

The post Economic Indicators: Rescheduled 2020 Kentucky Derby Skews September Numbers appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Equibase Analysis: Vertical Threat Can Lead All The Way In Santa Anita Sprint Championship

This Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes is a “Win & You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Although only drawing a field of six, there is not one horse entered who is without a chance to succeed.

Leading the field is C Z Rocket, who has earned nearly $1.5 million while winning 11 of 28 races in his career, including the 2020 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes.
Flagstaff was beaten a head in last year's edition of the race and has done little wrong in his last four races, winning the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes in May and most recently finishing third and a head behind runner-up C Z Rocket in the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien Stakes.
The third place finisher last year was Collusion Illusion, who had won the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes one month earlier. After taking eight months off following a third place finish last December in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, Collusion Illusion most recently finished seventh while trying turf for the first time in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap and could improve back on the surface where he has won five of eight races in his career.
Vertical Threat has won four of five dirt sprints in his career, three of those stakes including the Steel Valley Sprint last November and most recently the Russel Road Stakes.
Dr. Schivel, the only 3-year-old in the field, won the Bing Crosby this year as Collusion Illusion had done last year at the same age before finishing third in this race. Winner of four races in a row after losing his first two, Dr. Schivel appears to be on the verge of another top effort.
Colt Fiction rounds out the field. Runner-up in the Thor's Echo Stakes for California bred horses only in June, he enters the Santa Anita Sprint Championship off a victory against softer foes in an allowance race.

As mentioned previously, Vertical Threat is a perfect four for five in dirt sprints. Three of those three wins came at the six furlong distance of the Santa Anita Sprint Championship. The fastest of those came last November when leading from start to finish to draw off by seven and one-half lengths in the Steel Valley Sprint, earning a career-best 118 ™ Equibase® Speed Figure on par with the 117 figure C Z Rocket earned winning this race last year. Although this field is composed of some top sprinters, none has the early speed of Vertical Threat, which he not only used to win the Steel Valley Sprint but also most recently when winning the Russell Road Stakes. Leading from start to finish on fast fractions for the track at Charles Town, Vertical Threat still pulled away late to win by three and one-half lengths.

Cutting back from seven furlongs to the six furlong trip he so dearly loves, and making his third start after returning from an eight month layoff, I have little doubt jockey Abel Cedillo is going to put Vertical Threat on the lead and play “come catch me” with the field. Considering those tactics were successful in the colt's last two wins and considering the 118 figure earned in one of them is good enough to win in this field, Vertical Threat may be very tough to beat in this situation.

C Z Rocket was claimed for a fairly paltry $40,000 in April of 2020, compared to the more than $1 million he's earned since then winning seven of 10 races. He won the 2020 Pat O'Brien Stakes at Del Mar with a 110 ™ figure before a career-best 117 figure in last year's Santa Anita Sprint Championship. Not disgraced one bit following that when second in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Sprint, C Z Rocket returned in March to win the Hot Springs Stakes (111 figure) and the Count Fleet Stakes (114 figure) and has run well in three races since, all graded stakes, without winning. It's possible the seven year old has lost a step but on the other hand considering he's on the same pattern as before winning last year's edition of this race by cutting back from seven furlongs to six, he must be respected as a contender.

Flagstaff won the Commonwealth Stakes at seven furlongs in April and the Churchill Downs Stakes in May then cut back to six and one half furlongs and ran in to a buzzsaw in Firenze Fire when second in the True North Stakes with a 110 figure in June. Rested nearly three months while pointing to his race, Flagstaff was only a head behind C Z Rocket in the Pat O'Brien and so is on the same pattern he was last year when second in the Pat O'Brien behind C Z Rocket before losing by a head to the same horse in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship. That effort tied a career-best 117 figure earned when beaten a neck in the Palos Verdes Stakes in January of 2020 at this six furlong trip. Cutting back a furlong while making his second start off a layoff just as he did when almost winning this race last year, Flagstaff has a strong chance to add to his seven for 21 record on dirt and $1 million in career earnings.

The rest of the field, with their best ™ Equibase Speed Figures, is Collusion Illusion (114), Colt Fiction (110) and Dr. Schivel (109).

Win Contenders:
Vertical Threat
C Z Rocket
Flagstaff

Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes – Grade 2
Race 8 at Santa Anita
Saturday, October 2 – Post Time 7 PM E.T.
Six Furlongs
Three Years Olds and Upward
Purse: $200,000

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Santa Anita Races Return To Friday’s Stronach 5 Wager

Santa Anita Park's much-anticipated opening day Friday also means it will be one of five featured races as part of the popular Stronach 5.

The cross-country wager with a low 12-percent takeout will also feature races from Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park and Golden Gate Fields. The sequence includes three turf races and maiden special weight events for 2-year-olds from Santa Anita and Laurel.

The Stronach 5 kicks off at 4:19 p.m. with Laurel's eighth race, an intriguing maiden special weight event for 2-year-olds at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf.

Trainer Graham Motion will send out two colts making their debut. Northern Aurora, a son of Uncle Mo out of the graded winner Unspurned, sold for $210,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale while Zatip, a son of Tapit out of the Grade 1 winner Zaftig, is a Wertheimer and Frere homebred. Full of Mischief, a son of Into Mischief who sold for $140,000 in May, makes his debut for Michael Trombetta. Godolphin LLC's homebred Holiday House, a son of More Than Ready, will also debut for trainer Michael Stidham.

The Stronach 5 heads to Gulfstream next for the eighth race, a 5 ½ furlong event for fillies and mares on the main track for $20,000 claimers. My Sarasota Star goes out first time off the claim for trainer Georgina Baxter. The 5-year-old mare has won four of 11 starts at Gulfstream and has placed first or second in four of five starts at the distance. Dem a Wonder, owned and trained by Rohan Crichton, drops a bit in company and gets Edwin Gonzalez in the saddle. Mastering Bela looks for her second consecutive victory for trainer Carlos Munoz.

The third leg of the Stronach 5, Laurel's ninth race, features $12,500 claimers going 1 1/8 mile on the turf. The wide-open event has Mokheef dropping in class for trainer Suzanne Stettinius. The 7-year-old son of Street Cry has four wins on the turf. Forest Boyce rides. Vincent Van Gogo has won three consecutive races, two of them over hurdles. Sandwiched between hurdle wins at Colonial Downs and Tryon is a victory in July at Colonial at a mile. Neil Morris trains. Donji makes his debut for trainer Zoe Valvo, who claimed him for $10,000 in August at Colonial.

The Stronach 5 heads west for the final two legs. Santa Anita's third race is a competitive event at five furlongs on the turf for 2-year-olds. Trainer Doug O'Neill will send out Del Mo and Beef Winslow. Beef Winslow, a son of Honor Code, gets blinkers and jockey John Velazquez after finishing seventh in his debut after a wide trip. Del Mo, a son of Uncle Mo out of the unraced mare No Lip Service, will make his debut with Ricardo Gonzalez in the saddle. Little Red Feather Racing's Elevado, fourth in his debut Sept. 11, goes out for trainer Mike Puype. The son of Street Boss brought $190,000 at auction in May. Trainer Peter Miller will send out second-time starters Roy C and Fight On Ron. Roy C was sixth on the turf in his debut at Del Mar in August while Fight On Ron was third Sept. 11 at Los Alamitos.

The fourth race at Golden Gate is where the Stronach 5 will conclude. Fillies and mares with a $5,000 claiming tag will go six furlongs. Always in Vegas gets the rail and returns after an 11-month layoff. Trainer Andy Mathis is 43-percent with horses coming in off a 180-day layoff or more. Arouse N Go finished second Aug. 27 first time off the claim by trainer Jonathan Wong. Brite Tan looks for her second consecutive victory.

Friday's races and sequence

Leg One –Laurel Race 8: (10 entries, 5 ½ furlongs turf) 4 :19 ET, 1:19 PT
Leg Two –Gulfstream Race 8: (8 entries, 5 ½ furlongs) 4:30 ET, 1:30 PT
Leg Three –Laurel Race 9: (12 entries,1 1/8-mile turf) 4:49 ET, 1:49 PT
Leg Four –Santa Anita Race 3: (10 entries, 5 furlongs turf) 5 ET, 2 PT
Leg Five –Golden Gate Race 4: (7 entries, 6 furlongs) 5:14 ET, 2:14 PT

Fans can watch and wager on the action at 1/ST.COM/BET as well as stream all the action in English and Spanish at LaurelPark.com, SantaAnita.com, GulfstreamPark.com, and GoldenGateFields.com.

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

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