January 5, 2022
“Against an extraordinarily difficult backdrop, the resiliency of Thoroughbred racing was on full display in 2021 as we concluded the year with significant growth in purses and total handle of more than $12 billion, the highest since 2009. We thank our customers for their ongoing support as their wagering dollars continue to fuel our industry. As we turn the page to 2022, we look forward to the beginning of a new era for U.S. Thoroughbred racing with the launch of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) and an even greater focus on equine safety and welfare and the integrity of America’s oldest sport.”
Tom Rooney,
President and Chief Executive Officer,
National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA)
Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators
Year-End 2021
| YTD 2021 vs. YTD 2020 | |||
| Indicator | YTD 2021 | YTD 2020 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $12,218,407,637 | $10,922,936,290 | +11.86% |
| U.S. Purses | $1,180,853,677 | $869,771,206 | +35.77% |
| U.S. Race Days | 4,072 | 3,302 | +23.32% |
| U.S. Races | 33,567 | 27,700 | +21.18% |
| U.S. Starts | 247,416 | 220,006 | +12.46% |
| Average Field Size | 7.37 | 7.94 | -7.20% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $3,000,591 | $3,307,976 | -9.29% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $289,994 | $263,407 | +10.09% |
| 1st Half 2021 vs. 1st Half 2020 | |||
| Indicator | 1st Half 2021 | 1st Half 2020 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $6,279,039,094 | $5,054,526,907 | +24.23% |
| U.S. Purses | $515,151,692 | $324,168,648 | +58.91% |
| U.S. Race Days | 1,881 | 1,301 | +44.58% |
| U.S. Races | 15,792 | 10,906 | +44.80% |
| U.S. Starts | 117,303 | 88,074 | +33.19% |
| Average Field Size | 7.43 | 8.08 | -8.02% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $3,338,139 | $3,885,109 | -14.08% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $273,871 | $249,169 | +9.91% |
| 2nd Half 2021 vs. 2nd Half 2020 | |||
| Indicator | 2nd Half 2021 | 2nd Half 2020 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $5,939,368,543 | $5,868,409,383 | +1.21% |
| U.S. Purses | $665,701,985 | $545,602,558 | +22.01% |
| U.S. Race Days | 2,191 | 2,001 | +9.50% |
| U.S. Races | 17,775 | 16,794 | +5.84% |
| U.S. Starts | 130,113 | 131,932 | -1.38% |
| Average Field Size | 7.32 | 7.86 | -6.82% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $2,710,803 | $2,932,738 | -7.57% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $303,835 | $272,665 | +11.43% |
| 4th QTR 2021 vs. 4th QTR 2020 | |||
| Indicator | 4th QTR 2021 | 4th QTR 2020 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $2,720,738,901 | $2,576,392,869 | +5.60% |
| U.S. Purses | $300,299,698 | $240,534,957 | +24.85% |
| U.S. Race Days | 870 | 793 | +9.71% |
| U.S. Races | 7,339 | 6,805 | +7.85% |
| U.S. Starts | 56,789 | 55,530 | +2.27% |
| Average Field Size | 7.74 | 8.16 | -5.17% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $3,127,286 | $3,248,919 | -3.74% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $345,172 | $303,323 | +13.80% |
| December 2021 vs. December 2020 | |||
| Indicator | December 2021 | December 2020 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $808,907,627 | $751,783,126 | +7.60% |
| U.S. Purses | $74,777,035 | $57,534,410 | +29.97% |
| U.S. Race Days | 251 | 229 | +9.61% |
| U.S. Races | 2,151 | 2,008 | +7.12% |
| U.S. Starts | 17,257 | 16,884 | +2.21% |
| Average Field Size | 8.02 | 8.41 | -4.59% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $3,222,740 | $3,282,896 | -1.83% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $297,916 | $251,242 | +18.58% |
2019 Comparisons:
| YTD 2021 vs. YTD 2019 | |||
| Indicator | YTD 2021 | YTD 2019 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $12,218,407,637 | $11,033,824,363 | +10.74% |
| U.S. Purses | $1,180,853,677 | $1,167,920,667 | +1.11% |
| U.S. Race Days | 4,072 | 4,425 | -7.98% |
| U.S. Races | 33,567 | 36,207 | -7.29% |
| U.S. Starts | 247,416 | 272,553 | -9.22% |
| Average Field Size | 7.37 | 7.53 | -2.08% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $3,000,591 | $2,493,520 | +20.34% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $289,994 | $263,937 | +9.87% |
| 1st Half 2021 vs. 1st Half 2019 | |||
| Indicator | 1st Half 2021 | 1st Half 2019 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $6,279,039,094 | $5,672,774,271 | +10.69% |
| U.S. Purses | $515,151,692 | $544,002,132 | -5.30% |
| U.S. Race Days | 1,881 | 2,104 | -10.60% |
| U.S. Races | 15,792 | 17,457 | -9.54% |
| U.S. Starts | 117,303 | 130,239 | -9.93% |
| Average Field Size | 7.43 | 7.46 | -0.44% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $3,338,139 | $2,696,185 | +23.81% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $273,871 | $258,556 | +5.92% |
| 2nd Half 2021 vs. 2nd Half 2019 | |||
| Indicator | 2nd Half 2021 | 2nd Half 2019 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $5,939,368,543 | $5,361,050,092 | +10.79% |
| U.S. Purses | $665,701,985 | $623,918,535 | +6.70% |
| U.S. Race Days | 2,191 | 2,321 | -5.60% |
| U.S. Races | 17,775 | 18,750 | -5.20% |
| U.S. Starts | 130,113 | 142,314 | -8.57% |
| Average Field Size | 7.32 | 7.59 | -3.56% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $2,710,803 | $2,309,802 | +17.36% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $303,835 | $268,815 | +13.03% |
| 4th QTR 2021 vs. 4th QTR 2019 | |||
| Indicator | 4th QTR 2021 | 4th QTR 2019 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $2,720,738,901 | $2,439,642,344 | +11.52% |
| U.S. Purses | $300,299,698 | $274,053,649 | +9.58% |
| U.S. Race Days | 870 | 910 | -4.40% |
| U.S. Races | 7,339 | 7,653 | -4.10% |
| U.S. Starts | 56,789 | 61,576 | -7.77% |
| Average Field Size | 7.74 | 8.05 | -3.83% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $3,127,286 | $2,680,926 | +16.65% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $345,172 | $301,158 | +14.61% |
| December 2021 vs. December 2019 | |||
| Indicator | December 2021 | December 2019 | % Change |
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $808,907,627 | $707,728,171 | +14.30% |
| U.S. Purses | $74,777,035 | $66,315,581 | +12.76% |
| U.S. Race Days | 251 | 252 | -0.40% |
| U.S. Races | 2,151 | 2,169 | -0.83% |
| U.S. Starts | 17,257 | 17,561 | -1.73% |
| Average Field Size | 8.02 | 8.10 | -0.91% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $3,222,740 | $2,808,445 | +14.75% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $297,916 | $263,157 | +13.21% |
* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.