Thoroughbred Racing reported a significant downturn in July’s economic indicators, largely attributed to a reduction of 13 race days compared to the same period last year.
The industry saw notable declines across multiple metrics, with available purses dropping 4.96% and U.S. starts decreasing by 6.35% month-over-month. Average wagering per race day provided the sole bright spot with a 2.25% increase.
Year-to-date figures reflect similar challenges throughout 2025, with wagering down 2.56%, paid purses falling 3.65%, and race days decreasing by 4.19%.
Total races have declined 4.39% while starts dropped 3.53% compared to the same period in 2024.
Despite these downward trends, the industry has seen modest improvements in several per-day metrics. Field size increased by 0.89%, while average wagering per race day grew 1.70%. Average available purses per race day also showed slight growth at 0.78%.
Weather conditions have significantly impacted the racing calendar, particularly along the East Coast. Excessive heat and precipitation forced the reduction of July race days to 370, down from 383 in July 2024—a 3.39% decrease.
The Belmont at Saratoga meet continues despite these industry-wide challenges, adapting to the difficult seasonal conditions affecting much of the racing calendar.
