LEXINGTON, KY, January 5, 2023: The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) issued the following statement after the release of the Equibase Annual Year End 2022 Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators.
“Thoroughbred racing purses and pari-mutuel handle continued to exhibit strength in 2022. Purses were up double-digits year-over year and reached an all-time high thanks in part to contributions from other gaming sources,” said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. “Pari-mutuel handle was nearly equal to 2021 and the second highest since 2009. These business trends occurred during a year of unprecedented growth in legal, state regulated sports betting. The 2023 gaming landscape promises to be more competitive than ever for the sports wagering dollar. It also represents a huge opportunity to introduce pari-mutuel wagering and the sport of Thoroughbred racing to a vast new audience if we as an industry embrace the challenge.”
Total wagering for the year ended slightly down at -0.87% while purses continued their upward trend, ending up significantly at +10.92%, when compared to 2021. Year to date 2022 vs. 2021 indicators are listed below:
| Indicator | YTD 2022 | YTD 2021 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $12,108,807,335 | $12,215,598,838 | -0.87% |
| U.S. Purses | $1,309,837,841 | $1,180,842,882 | +10.92% |
| U.S. Race Days | 4,104 | 4,072 | +0.79% |
| U.S. Races | 33,453 | 33,565 | -0.33% |
| U.S. Starts | 244,133 | 247,405 | -1.32% |
| Average Field Size | 7.30 | 7.37 | -0.99% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $2,950,489 | $2,999,901 | -1.65% |
| Average Purses Per Race Day | $319,161 | $289,991 | +10.06% |