July wagering handle lags 2025
Has trailed last year in six of seven months
The Biz
August 4, 2026
National wagering on U.S. horse racing declined again in July, while purses continued to post year-over-year gains, according to the latest industry economic indicators published by Equibase.
The decline marked the sixth time in seven months this year that wagering lagged the same month a year ago.
Total wagering on U.S. races during July was $908.8 million, down 4.5% from the $951.5 million bet in July 2025. Although the number of race days increased by 1.4% to 375, the betting decline translated to average wagering of $2.42 million per race day, down 5.8% from a year ago.
The July figures left year-to-date wagering at $6.433 billion, a 4.5% decline from the $6.737 billion handled through the first seven months of 2025. Average wagering per race day for the year stands at $3.14 million, down 3.0%.
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Purses, meanwhile, continued to move in the opposite direction.
Available purses in July totaled $108.4 million, an increase of 3.6% over July 2025, while paid purses also rose 3.6% to $104.6 million. Average available purses per race day increased 2.2% to $289,022.
Through the end of July, available purses have reached $705.1 million, up 1.6% from the same point last year. Paid purses are up 1.7% to $674.6 million, while average available purses per race day have climbed 3.2% to $343,969.
The industry’s racing schedule remained relatively stable in July, though participation continued to soften.
Tracks conducted 375 race days during the month, five more than in July 2025, but the number of races declined 1.5% to 2,861. Total starts fell 2.3% to 19,803, and average field size dipped from 6.98 to 6.92 horses per race.
The year-to-date figures tell a similar story. Through seven months, race days are down 1.5% and races are down 2.0%, while the number of starters has fallen 5.3% to 120,484. Average field size is down 3.3% from last year.
The latest report continues a pattern that has persisted throughout 2026. Wagering remains below 2025 levels despite a relatively steady racing calendar, while purses have continued to grow. At the same time, fewer starters and smaller fields remain an ongoing challenge for the industry, even as the decline in average field size has moderated somewhat compared with earlier in the year.
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