Equibase reported Monday that wagering on U.S. Thoroughbred races declined 5.16% in April 2025 compared to the same month last year, with total handle reaching $878,811,558 in worldwide commingled figures.
Despite the wagering decrease, several positive indicators emerged in the monthly economic report. Average field size increased 2.29% to 7.71 horses per race, up from 7.54 in April 2024.
Average wagering per race day showed modest growth of 1.24%, reaching $3,487,347.
Purse structures also strengthened, with average available purses per day climbing 3.14% to $364,014.
The year-to-date figures through April 2025 reveal a mixed performance for the racing industry. Total wagering on U.S. races has declined 3.77% to $3,384,083,316 compared to the same period in 2024.
Paid purses have similarly decreased, dropping 3.29% to $333,703,257.
Race days continued their downward trend, with 967 race days held through April 2025 — a reduction from the 1,023 race days conducted during the same period in 2024.
Several year-to-date metrics show improvement, however. Average field size has increased 3% to 7.88 horses per race, while average available purses per day rose 2.8% to $364,099.
Average daily handle has grown by 1.8% to $3,499,569 through the first four months of 2025.
The economic indicators suggest that while overall industry activity has contracted slightly, the remaining race days are generating stronger per-day metrics with larger fields and increased wagering.
