U.S. pari-mutuel handle increases, purses down in 2017

Posted: Jan. 6, 2018

Commingled wagering on United States races totaled $10.903 billion in 2017, up 1.59% from 2016, according to the Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators released Jan. 5 by Equibase.

U.S. purses dropped 0.37% to $1.079 billion last year versus $1.083 billion in 2016, while the number of races—37,628—was down 1.71% from 38,284.

For 2016, total pari-mutuel handle was up 0.58% from 2015, while purses 0.91% from the previous year.

Average wagering per race day last year totaled $2.384 million last year, up 3.73% from $2.298 million in 2016. Average purses per race day increased 1.73% to $236,112 from $232,104.

Average field size last year was 7.73, down 0.99% from 7.80 in 2016.

A decent fourth quarter helped with the year-end increase in wagering. Handle for the final three months of the year was $2.398 billion, up 2.32% from $2.343 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016. December handle was up 3.85% from the same month in 2016.