September wagering handle increases versus last year
More days at Saratoga likely the driving factor
The Biz
October 5, 2026
Thoroughbred wagering on U.S. races rose 4.33% in September despite fewer races, narrowing a year-to-date deficit that still stands at nearly $350 million.
September handle totaled $769.2 million, up from $737.3 million a year earlier. Through nine months, however, wagering reached $8.33 billion, down 4.03% from $8.68 billion during the same period in 2025. The data includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races and is provided by Equibase.
The increase is likely attributable to this year’s late Labor Day, which fell on Sept. 7 versus Sept. 1 a year ago. As a result, Saratoga raced five days in September 2026 versus one in September 2025, and its handle for the month rose from $25.8 million to more than $109 million. That amount is significantly higher than NYRA would have handled had the added days been run at Belmont, and the Saratoa increase is greater than the national increase as a whole.
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The September increase came across a smaller racing schedule. Race days declined 7.06% to 329, while the number of races fell 6.25% to 2,612. Average wagering per race day consequently climbed 12.26% to $2.34 million.
Starts fell 6.42% to 18,735, but average field size held nearly steady at 7.17 runners, compared with 7.19 a year earlier.
The year-to-date figures paint a less encouraging picture. Race days have declined 2.93% to 2,754, and races have fallen 3.21% to 22,306. Starts dropped more sharply, falling 5.80% to 160,210, while average field size slipped from 7.38 to 7.18.
With wagering declining faster than race days, average handle per day fell 1.13% to $3.02 million through September.
Purses have held up better than wagering. September available purses rose 3.82% to $133.4 million, while purses paid increased 1.50% to $125.2 million. Average available purses per race day jumped 11.71% to $405,569.
Through nine months, both purse measures were essentially flat. Available purses totaled $975.3 million, down 0.03%, while purses paid reached $932.1 million, up 0.06%. With fewer racing days, average available purses per day increased 2.98% to $354,122.
September recovered nearly $32 million in wagering compared with the same month last year. But with three months remaining, the industry still faces a substantial handle deficit, alongside fewer races, fewer starts and smaller fields.
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