November U.S. handle inches up compared to 2019

Total handle on Thoroughbred races held at U.S. racetracks was up marginally in November when compared to the same month of 2019, prior to the coronavirus pandemic disrupting economic and social conditions across the world.

Total handle during November was $961.8 million, a jump of less than one percent compared to total handle of $955.8 million in November of 2019, according to figures distributed by Equibase. November of this year had eight weekend dates, compared to nine weekend dates in November of 2019.

The total number of races held this November was down 10.6 percent, however, so average handle per-race in November of this year was $394,180, up 12.5 percent compared to the per-race average of $350,109 in November of 2019. Both months included the two-day Breeders’ Cup event.

Comparisons between this year and last year are complicated enormously by the widespread disruptions caused by the pandemic. Still, handle in November of this year was up 7.4 percent compared to November of last year, which had one more weekend date, while the number of races held this year was up 25.5 percent compared to November of last year.

Field size in November of this year was 7.70, down 3.8 percent compared to field size of 8.00 in November of 2019. Purses distributed in U.S. Thoroughbred races this November was $117.7 million, up 1.7 percent compared to November of 2019.

For the first 11 months of the year, total handle is up 10.5 percent compared to total handle in 2019. The number of races is down 7.7 percent, while purses are even with the first 11 months of 2019, according to Equibase.