Total wagering on Thoroughbred races held at U.S. tracks in April dropped 5.16 percent while the number of races held declined 6.15 percent compared to the same month last year, according to figures distributed by Equibase on Monday.
April was unusual this year due to the disruption created on the first weekend of the month by a massive rainstorm that led Keeneland Racecourse to shift its most popular spring race card to a Tuesday. That was the same weekend in which Oaklawn Park also canceled its Saturday card due to weather. Still, wagering per race held up during the month, posting a 1.1 percent gain compared to last year.
Both April of this year and April of last year had eight weekend dates.
In total, wagering during the month on Thoroughbred races was $878.81 million, about $48 million less than in April of 2024, when $926.63 million was bet. The number of races fell from 2,245 during April of last year to 2,107 this year. Per race, the average handle was $417,091 compared to $412,751 in April of last year.
The total amount of purses distributed during the month was $87.63 million, a 3.48 percent decline from the $90.79 million distributed in April of 2024. Still, the average purse increased 2.84 percent, to $41,592.
Purses at U.S. ractracks are heavily subsidized by casino revenues. In addition, Santa Anita Park in Southern California has begun distributing higher purses due to the closure of Golden Gate Fields in Northern California, which has led to slightly higher handle figures and increased simulcasting revenue for the track.
Continuing a recent trend, the average field size for the month increased 2.29 percent from 7.54 horses per race to 7.71 horses per race. Field size has been in steady decline for 20 years, but the trend has stabilized over the past half-year, and the figure has been increasing in 2025.
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