U.S. handle dropped slightly in July
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Total betting on Thoroughbred races held at U.S. tracks declined slightly in July compared to the same month last year, according to figures distributed by Equibase on Tuesday, while the number of races declined nearly 5 percent.
Total wagering on the 2,903 races held during the month was down $11.6 million, or 1.22 percent, slipping to $951.45 million, according to Equibase. The number of races was down 4.6 percent from the previous July, when 3,042 races were held.
Average handle per race in July of this year was $327,747, up 3.5 percent compared to average handle per race of $316,622 in July of last year.
Notably during the month, the New York Racing Association ran at Saratoga during the first week of July, rather than at Aqueduct. Total handle for the week at Saratoga was $83.4 million, compared to $37.9 million at Aqueduct last year. Nationwide, total handle at all U.S. tracks for the week including the Fourth of July weekend was $248.4 million, according to DRF figures, up $6.5 million over the same week last year.
July of this year had eight weekend dates, the same as July of last year.
A prolonged heat wave in the Midwest throughout July led several tracks in the area to cancel live racing dates, including Prairie Meadows, Canterbury Park, and Ellis Park. In addition, Thistledown racetrack in Ohio lost nearly eight days of live racing in July due to work on its racing surface.
Total paid purses in July of this year dropped 4.8 percent compared to the same month last year, according to Equibase. Average purse in July of this year was $34,780, statistically even with the average purse in July of last year.
The average field size dipped below seven at 6.98 horses per race, a 1.9 percent decline from the average field size of 7.12 in races held in July last year.
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