United States handle, field size took a hit in March
Wagering on Thoroughbred races at U.S. tracks plummeted in March by 12.4 percent, dropping from $931.2 million in the same month of last year to $816.2 million in March of this year, according to figures distributed on Monday by Equibase.
March of this year had nine weekend dates, compared to 10 weekend dates last year. Handle is generally far higher on weekend dates.
But the total number of races held in March – boosted in part by make-up dates at many tracks due to weather-related cancellations in February – declined only 0.9 percent, in contrast to a trend in which races have been dropping 3 to 5 percent per month. Average handle per race dropped 11.6 percent compared to March of last year.
Part of the decline was almost certainly related to low average field sizes. In March of this year, the average field size was 7.17, down more than half a horse from March of last year, when average field size was 7.71 horses per race.
During the final two months of the quarter, the New York Racing Association put in place restrictions on betting for computer-assisted wagering operations at Aqueduct racetrack. Last week, NYRA reported that total handle during its winter meet (Jan. 1-March 29), plummeted 23.9 percent, a drop of $61.1 million in bets, with a decline of CAW wagering during the meet accounting for 5 percentage points of the drop.
In contrast to handle and field size, total purses distributed during the month climbed 0.9 percent, according to the figures, to $94.1 million. The average purse per race jumped 1.7 percent to $41,877.
For the first quarter of 2026, total wagering is down 7.1 percent, while purses are down 1.54 percent. Average field size has declined 4.3 percent, from 7.93 horses per race in the first quarter of last year to 7.59 horses per race this year.
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