BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Wagering Down Slightly in January

After posting a rare gain in December, wagering on North American racing took a small step backward in January, with total handle from all sources down 1.1% from January 2011.

Hollywood Park Reports Handle Up 13.8%

The Southern California track also reported its average daily handle up 9.5% but complete figures are not yet available for the 26-day Autumn meet.

Churchill Fall Meet Handle Declines

Total wagering during the recently concluded 21-day fall meet at Churchill Downs fell 3.9%, with a large portion of the difference coming during the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships.

First-Day Cup Attendance and Handle Slide

The Friday card had declines in attendance and handle coming off a record year in 2010 at Churchill Downs.

Spa Attendance, Handle Open Higher

New York Racing Association reported that attendance for the first four days of its Saratoga meeting was up 2%, while all-sources handle rose 10%.

Churchill Downs Has Positive Spring Meet

Two purse increases and continued success with a night racing program highlighted the 38-day spring meet.

Things That Make You Go Hmmmm (9)

Have you ever watched National League MVP Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds at the plate? Tom Lamarra offers thoughts on topics ranging from the Medication Summit to Handle

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May Economic Indicators: Declines Continue

Wagering on U.S. races fell 7.8% during the month of May as the declines in Thoroughbred racing continue, according to figures released June 4 by the Equibase Company.

Economic Indicators: Purses Up, Wagering Down

Key economic indicators for North American racing in March and the first three months of 2011 reflected a continuation of the trend in which wagering is down but purses are up.

'Slot Money Will End' - By Gary Fenton

The solution is and has 
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Pope: Reward Horses Generating Handle

Thoroughbred industry marketer Fred Pope outlines a plan to reward the owners of the most popular horses with bonus purse money.

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Wagering Fell 7.3%, Purses Down 6.1% in 2010

Wagering on Thoroughbred racing in the United States fell 7.3% and purses declined 6% in 2010, continuing the trends seen in recent years as the industry remains mired in recession.

Hollywood Attendance Stable, Handle Drops

Hollywood Park finished its 30th fall season on Dec. 19 with a slight decline in ontrack attendance and a 4.2% drop in all source wagering.

Handle, Attendance Rise for Travers Stakes

The attendance increased 33.7% from a year ago to 45,764.

Total Saratoga Handle Close to 2009 Figure

Total wagering remained close to last year's comparable figure while attendance and ontrack handle inched upward despite two rainy days through the fourth full week of racing at Saratoga.

Spa Handle Nearly Even With Last Year

Wagering across the country on races run through the first two full weeks at Saratoga is nearly identical with 2009 figures according to statistics released today by the New York Racing Association.

Rain Keeps Saratoga First-Day Handle Down

Opening day ontrack handle was down 14.3% from the opening day of 2009.

Racing's June Economic Indicators Decline

Total handle for June is down 5.82% while purses and race days fall 1.21% and 3.23%, respectively.

Atlantic City Beats Odds, Posts Big Gains

Atlantic City Race Course ended its six-day meet April 24 with encouraging gains in a critical year for Thoroughbred racing in New Jersey.

Breeders' Cup Boosts November Purses, Handle

The Nov. 6-7 Breeders' Cup World Championships during the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meet provided a major shot in the arm for November purses, which were up 24.9% over the same month a year ago when the Breeders' Cup was held in October.

BC Attendance Up, Total Handle Slips

Attendance for the two-day event increased 11%, while the overall handle slipped 7% largely because two less races were run compared with 2008. On-track handle grew 3% compared with a year ago.

Breeders' Cup Attendance, Handle Increase

Breeders' Cup announced that the first of the two days of this year's World Championships, Nov. 6 at Santa Anita, showed an increase in attendance and handle.

Handle Down at Belmont Fall Meeting

The 2009 Belmont Park Fall Championship meet, permeated by inclement weather and races washed off the turf, saw declines in handle and attendance figures.

On-Track Down, Simulcast Up at Keeneland

A rainy October in Kentucky led to much lower on-track business for the Keeneland fall meet, but good racing at the track helped the simulcast wagering, and the combined off-track and on-track betting increased.

Purses Drop 6% During Month of September

Wagering on Thoroughbred races in the United States was only down less than 1% in September, but for the year still lags 2008 by more than $1 billion.

Still No Signs of Life for Total U.S. Handle

Pari-mutuel handle on United States racing continued its decline in August despite the country's two premier summer meets at Del Mar and Saratoga.

Saratoga Attendance, Handle Down Slightly

Attendance and handle turned down fractionally for the first time during the 2009 Saratoga Race Course meet after two inches of rain Aug. 28 and 29 lowered attendance on Shadwell Travers (gr. I) Day and forced seven of the weekend's 11 carded turf races off the turf. Attendance was down 1.6%, on-track handle down 1.6%, and all-sources handle down 2.8% from 2008 totals through week five.

Belmont Attributes Low Handle Figures to Rain

All-sources handle for the recently-concluded 64-day Belmont Park spring/summer meet decreased 13.9% from 2008 totals, in contrast with industry-wide decreases of 16.9% in June, and 10.5% through the first six months of 2009 compared to 2008 figures. Incessant rain throughout the meet resulted in 77 races taken off the turf and many more turf races which could not be carded.

Saratoga Opening Day Way Up

On-track and all-sources handle were up significantly over 2008 totals as Saratoga Race Course opened its 141st season July 29.

Del Mar Opening Week On-Track Business Up

Del Mar officials announced that figures for the Southern California track's first week of its summer meet was up in both on-track attendance and on-track handle.

ADWs Grab Larger Share in First Quarter

Led by strong performances from Twinspires.com and Youbet.com, collective handle for the four largest domestic advance deposit wagering platforms increased by roughly 15% in the first quarter of the year, while their overall share of the national betting pie grew by more than 2%.

Preakness Yields Bountiful Handle Increases

Wagering was up on several segments of the Preakness day card, according to data released May 18 by Maryland Jockey Club officials, fueled in part by the showdown between Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird and Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) victress Rachel Alexandra.

Youbet Looking Beyond Racing for Growth

Flush off a quarter in which it saw increased handle and profit, Youbet.com said May 13 it would look at possibly establishing a presence in another country in an effort to expand its wagering offerings beyond horse racing.

Tampa Bay Downs Handle Declines 2.7%

Tampa Bay Downs reported May 7 a 2.7% decline in all-sources handle for its recently-concluded 2008-2009 winter/spring meet at the racetrack located in Oldsmar, Fla.

CDI: Revenues Up, Earnings Down

Citing the absence of insurance payments received in 2008, Churchill Downs Inc. reported a net loss of $4.8 million in the first quarter of the year, but said a 12% increase in net revenues were attributed to strength in its Louisiana gaming business and on-line wagering operation.

Wagering Continues Declining Trends

Wagering on United States Thoroughbred racing in the first four months of the year declined 9.5%, according to Equibase's "Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators" released May 4.

Kentucky Derby Total Handle Declines 5.3%

Total wagering from all sources on the 13-race Kentucky Derby card May 2 at Churchill Downs was $155,969,770, a decline of 5.3% from the $164,668,176 wagered a year earlier on 12 races, the track has reported.

Keeneland Handle Slips, Attendance Strong

The Lexington track attracted near-record crowds but the all-sources handle still fell 19.5%. The on-track handle fared a bit better.

Handle for Horses and Slots Up at Gulfstream

Good weather and a five-day race week were credited for a 3.69% rise in the all-sources handle at Gulfstream Park.

Laurel Meet Suffers Handle Drop-Off

All-sources handle for the recently-concluded Laurel Park winter-spring meet fell 25.5%, Maryland Jockey Club officials have reported.

Oaklawn Reports Healthy Meet Numbers

Oaklawn Park realized an increase in handle and attendance during its 54-day meet that ended April 11, according to a published report.

Handle, Purse Declines Continue in March

Wagering continued its decline in 2009 in a year-over-year comparison, falling 9.4% through March, according to data released April 3 by Equibase.

'Big Four' Post Mixed Oregon ADW Numbers

Even though TVG, TwinsSpires.com, and XpressBet.com enjoyed handle growth in 2008, total wagers processed by advance deposit wagering entities through hubs in Oregon decreased for the first time this decade, though the numbers are skewed by actions related to another member of the "Big Four," Youbet.com.

Philly Park Faces TrackNet Deadline

Philadelphia Park has been asked to cease handling account wagers on racing affiliated with TrackNet Media Group unless the Pennsylvania track signs a new licensing agreement with the content group.

CDI Confident in Derby Sales, Slots Plan

Churchill Downs has seen some weakness in ticket sales for its annual Derby-Oaks weekend extravaganza, but feels there is enough interest in the events to produce another strong showing for the racetrack company.

Impairment Hits Youbet Bottom-Line

Youbet.com reported a loss of $4.5 million for 2008, fueled by an $11.2 million fourth-quarter impairment charge for subsidiary United Tote, the company reported March 5.

Handle Up Mid-Meet at Tampa Bay Downs

Driven by its live export signal to out of state outlets, total handle is up slightly at Tampa Bay Downs through the mid-way part of the 94-day meet, the track reported Feb. 20.

Nevada Booking Bets After Signal Cut-Off

Some Nevada casino racebooks are booking wagers on races from tracks affiliated with TrackNet Media Group after the content company recently cut off signals to the state over a contract dispute.

TrackNet Signal Cut-Off Looms in Nevada

Despite comments from TrackNet Media Group that negotiations are "going backwards" over issues involving racing signals to Nevada racebooks, the player on the other side of the table offered guarded hope matters can be resolved before a Jan. 25 cut-off deadline.

Handle Down, Purses Up for NYRA in 2008

All-sources handle for all New York Racing Association tracks declined 2.1% in 2008, but purses grew 3.1%, it was reported Jan. 22.