US wagering handle up in April
Handle shows modest growth despite shrinking field size
The Biz
May 5, 2026
For the first time in six months, the numbers moved in the right direction.
According to the latest monthly Thoroughbred Economic Indicators released by Equibase, April 2026 marked the first month since October 2025 in which U.S. wagering outpaced the same month the prior year, a modest but notable shift after a prolonged stretch of declines.
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Wagering on U.S. races totaled $898.3 million in April, a 2.23% increase over April 2025’s $878.7 million. While the gain was not dramatic, it snapped a downward trend that had defined much of the late winter and early spring heading into Triple Crown season.
That positive momentum came alongside robust gains in purses. Available purses climbed 8.94% to just under $100 million, while paid purses rose 9.14% to $95.6 million. On a per-day basis, average available purses jumped 6.00%.
Racing activity itself ticked upward in April. The number of race days increased 2.78% to 259, while total races rose 2.99% to 2,170. Despite the growth in race days, total starts declined 2.55% to 15,837, and average field size dropped 5.38% to 7.30 starters per race, continuing a trend that has concerned industry observers because of its direct relationship to wagering appeal.
Indeed, despite the overall increase in handle, efficiency metrics were slightly weaker. Average wagering per race day dipped 0.53% to $3.47 million.
The year-to-date picture remains more challenging. Through the first four months of 2026, wagering on U.S. races stands at $3.23 billion, down 4.69% from the same period in 2025.
Other key indicators show a mixed but generally stable landscape. Available purses are up 1.12% year-to-date, with paid purses ahead 1.26%, continuing to reflect relative financial stability on the purse side. But participation metrics lag behind: race days (-1.14%), races (-1.64%), and especially starts (-6.16%) are all down, contributing to a 4.59% decline in average field size to 7.52.
Average wagering per race day is also off 3.59%, though average available purses per race day have risen 2.28%.
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