Despite fewer races and race days, commingled wagering on U.S. racing rose nominally during the month of March, according to the Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators released by Equibase April 5.
Equibase reported total wagering for the month of $854,900,215, up less than 1% from the $847,700,697 wagered in March 2015. The number of race days declined 9.04% to 302 from 332 a year ago and the number of races was down 8.47% from 2,844 to 2,603 this year.
As a result of the drop in race days, races, and a 6.72% decline in starts, total March purses fell 4.90%. Average daily purses, however, of $238,538 during March 2016 represented a gain over the daily average $228,168 in March 2015.
Through the first quarter of 2016, U.S. wagering increased 3.07% while purses declined 2.60%, race days were down 7.43%, races declined by 5.82%, and U.S. starts were off 4.05%.
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Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators
For March 2016 |
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March 2016 vs. March 2015 |
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Indicator |
March 2016 |
March 2015 |
% Change |
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Wagering on U.S. Races* |
$854,900,215 |
$847,700,697 |
+0.85% |
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U.S. Purses |
$72,038,600 |
$75,750,051 |
-4.90% |
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U.S. Race Days |
302 |
332 |
-9.04% |
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U.S. Races |
2,603 |
2,844 |
-8.47% |
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U.S. Starts |
20,520 |
21,998 |
-6.72% |
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YTD 2016 vs. YTD 2015 |
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Indicator |
YTD 2016 |
YTD 2015 |
% Change |
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Wagering on U.S. Races* |
$2,498,295,980 |
$2,423,926,336 |
+3.07% |
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U.S. Purses |
$197,361,190 |
$202,632,295 |
-2.60% |
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U.S. Race Days |
847 |
915 |
-7.43% |
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U.S. Races |
7,282 |
7,732 |
-5.82% |
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U.S. Starts |
59,628 |
62,142 |
-4.05% |
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* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.
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