August wagering outpaces 2024 but year-to-date figure is down
Despite a year-to-year drop in race days, wagering on races in the U.S. was up 3.13% in August compared with August 2024, according to data released Friday by Equibase.
During August of this year, $1.204 billion was wagered on American races, a figure that includes money from worldwide commingled pools for races in the country. That is up from $1.168 billion during the month last year.
The rise happened despite the fact that there were only 3,181 races across 400 race days at U.S. tracks in August 2025, compared with 3,232 races across 416 cards in the same month of 2024. Average field size in each race was close to flat, with an average of 7.19 horses per race this year compared with 7.21 over the same month of 2024.
Even after the rise in August, however, wagering on U.S. races is still down for the first eight months of 2025 compared with that same segment of 2024. As of the end of August $7.942 billion had been wagered on American horse races compared with $8.083 billion for that same period of 2024, a 1.73% decline. That decline is slower, however, than the year-to-year change in race days and races. There have been 3.96% fewer races across 4.13% fewer race days in 2025 compared to 2024.
This is the complete August economic indicator data released by Equibase on Friday.
August 2025 vs. August 2024
| Indicator | August 2025 | August 2024 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wagering on U.S. races* | $1,204,428,838 | $1,167,896,035 | +3.13% |
| U.S. purses available | $153,056,348 | $142,717,920 | +7.24% |
| U.S. purses paid | $145,257,544 | $136,608,694 | +6.33% |
| U.S. race days | 400 | 416 | -3.85% |
| U.S. races | 3,181 | 3,232 | -1.58% |
| U.S. starts | 22,862 | 23,293 | -1.85% |
| Average field size | 7.19 | 7.21 | -0.28% |
| Average wagering per race day | $3,011,072 | $2,807,442 | +7.25% |
| Average available purses per race day | $382,641 | $343,072 | +11.53% |
Year to date 2025 vs. year to date 2024
| Indicator | YTD 2025 | YTD 2024 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wagering on U.S. Races* | $7,942,363,476 | $8,082,578,305 | -1.73% |
| U.S. Purses (Available) | $847,122,741 | $861,514,117 | -1.67% |
| U.S. Purses (Paid) | $808,351,090 | $824,793,302 | -1.99% |
| U.S. Race Days | 2,482 | 2,589 | -4.13% |
| U.S. Races | 20,259 | 21,094 | -3.96% |
| U.S. Starts | 150,054 | 155,146 | -3.28% |
| Average Field Size | 7.41 | 7.35 | +0.70% |
| Average Wagering Per Race Day | $3,199,985 | $3,121,892 | +2.50% |
| Average Available Purses Per Race Day | $341,307 | $332,759 | +2.57% |