California all-sources handle drops 12 percent in July

DEL MAR, Calif. – Gross all-sources handle on all horse races in California fell by 12 percent in July with three fewer afternoon programs than in 2017, according to figures presented at the California Horse Racing Board meeting on Aug. 23.

For the year, gross handle at all venues showed an increase of 6.5 percent over 2017 to $1.82 billion.

The figures include handle from four racing circuits – Thoroughbred racing in the north and south, the Los Alamitos night meeting, and harness racing in Sacramento. For the year, daytime Thoroughbred racing accounted for the bulk of the growth – a 7 percent increase over 2017, to $1.63 billion.

In July, handle at the Del Mar and Los Alamitos Thoroughbred meetings in Southern California and the county fair circuit in Northern California was $224.7 million, a drop of 13.4 percent. There were three fewer days of daytime racing in July, which had five Saturdays in 2017 and four this year.

There was one fewer evening of racing at the Los Alamitos Quarter Horse and lower-level Thoroughbred meeting in July, which had a decline of half of 1 percent in gross handle.

Overall, handle at all venues in July was $249.3 million, a decline of 12.3 percent.