U.S. handle flat in May, year to date

Total betting on U.S. horse races in the month of May was statistically even with the same month last year, according to figures released by Equibase on Monday.

Betting in May was $1.414 billion this May, down $2 million from betting of $1.416 billion in May last year, according to the figures. Last year, betting figures for May included the Kentucky Derby card but not the Kentucky Oaks card, which was held on April 30. This year, both the Oaks and the Derby cards were held in May.

May of last year had 10 weekend dates, while May of this year had nine weekend dates. Handle is generally far higher on weekends than weekdays.

The number of races held in May was nearly identical to last May, 3,249 this year to 3,252 last year.

Average field size continued to decline, dropping to 6.86 horses per race, down from 7.13 horses per race in May of last year. For the year, average field size has been 7.33 horses per race, a number that would be the lowest on record for Thoroughbred racing.

Total purses distributed in May jumped 17.1 percent, from $106.8 million in May of last year to $125.1 million in May of this year. The increase reflects the numbers on the Kentucky Oaks card as well as generally sizable increases in purse distribution in Kentucky, where subsidies from casinos have been boosting purses by double-digits for much of the past year.

For the first five months of the year, total betting is even with last year, according to Equibase, while the number of races has increased slightly, by 1.1 percent. Total purses are up 15.5 percent.