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Del Mar starting gate (Benoit Photo)
Equibase Press Release/Edited
Purses increased both year-to-date from 2022 and comparing months from August 2022 to August 2023. YTD purses increased 1.32 percent while the monthly comparison showed a larger increase of 1.88 percent.
With a large drop by 7.30 percent wagering decreased from August 2022 to August 2023 with a marked lower decrease YTD of 4.09 percent.
The number of races, race days and starts decreased while the field sizes increased, likely due to the formerly mentioned decreases.
Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators For August 2023
| August 2023 vs. August 2022 | |||
| Indicator | August 2023 | August 2022 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $1,107,146,014 | $1,194,362,432 | -7.30% |
| U.S. Purses (Available) | $132,745,643 | $130,293,668 | +1.88% |
| U.S. Purses (Paid) | $125,922,233 | $125,935,965 | -0.01% |
| U.S. Race Days | 409 | 437 | -6.41% |
| U.S. Races | 3,204 | 3,400 | -5.76% |
| U.S. Starts | 22,925 | 24,228 | -5.38% |
| Average Field Size | 7.16 | 7.13 | +0.41% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $2,706,958 | $2,733,095 | -0.96% |
| Average Available Purses Per Race Day | $324,561 | $288,183 | +12.62% |
| YTD 2023 vs. YTD 2022 | |||
| Indicator | YTD 2023 | YTD 2022 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $8,249,313,338 | $8,601,074,739 | -4.09% |
| U.S. Purses (Available) | $854,882,701 | $843,731,568 | +1.32% |
| U.S. Purses (Paid) | $819,847,264 | $813,549,148 | +0.77% |
| U.S. Race Days | 2,693 | 2,819 | -4.47% |
| U.S. Races | 21,934 | 22,805 | -3.82% |
| U.S. Starts | 160,102 | 163,766 | -2.24% |
| Average Field Size | 7.30 | 7.18 | +1.64% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $3,063,243 | $3,051,108 | +0.40% |
| Average Available Purses Per Race Day | $317,446 | $288,595 | +10.00% |
* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.
