California sees slight decline in early all-sources handle

All-sources handle at California racetracks fell 4 percent, to $421.2 million, in the first two months of the year, according to data released by the California Horse Racing Board.

The figure includes ontrack handle as well as betting from simulcasting locations and through account wagering sources for daytime Thoroughbred racing at Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita, evening meetings of Quarter Horses and lowel-level Thoroughbreds at Los Alamitos, and harness racing at Cal-Expo.

Handle in the first two months of 2023 was $440.7 million.

Handle in January was down 3 percent compared to 2023, to $218.8 million, while handle in February declined 6 percent from 2023, to $202.4 million.

The decline in handles comes at a time when tracks in the state face purse deficits that has led to lower prize money at Del Mar, Golden Gate Fields, and Santa Anita in the last year.

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