December handle downturn seals 2019's year over year decline

A sharp decline in December’s betting when compared to the same month in 2018 assured that 2019's nationwide handle numbers finished down year-over-year.

December 2019's total handle ($698,821,676) was 8.7% lower than December 2018 ($765,119,067). The yearly total handle in the U.S. was $10.87 billion, down 1.9% from 2018, which totaled $11.08 billion.

December's totals ended a streak of two consecutive months with gains, as October's handle had increased 4.9% year over year and November gained 6.5%. October and November were the only consecutive months in 2019 in the black. Meanwhile, December’s 8.7% decrease from the prior was the biggest monthly loss year over year.

Top-10 tracks in handle for December 2019

Gulfstream Park again comprised the lion’s share of December's U.S. handle as the Hallandale Beach, Fla., track saw $180.1 million in wagering revenue, or 25.8% of every horse racing dollar. With its Championship Meet in full swing, Gulfstream Park hosted 22 fewer races in December 2019 than it did in the same month the year prior.

Aqueduct was once again No. 2 in terms of total handle in the month of December as nearly $112.5 million went through the windows. The NYRA track attracted 16.1% of U.S. horse racing wagering dollars, up from 13.6% for the same period the year before. Aqueduct joined Gulfstream Park as the only tracks in the nation to handle over $100 million for the month with a handle figure of $112,451,617.

A notable track with a worse December 2019 handle than the year prior was Fair Grounds, which saw a nearly $6.36 million decrease on only three fewer races than the previous December. In 2018, Fair Grounds handled $52.71 million in December, but only $46.35 in December 2019. Inclement weather in New Orleans last month likely played a large role in the handle decline.

Overall, there were 348 fewer races nationwide in December 2019 (2,169) than in the same month of 2018 (2,517). Average field size remained the same for the month compared year-over-year at 8.1 runners per race.

Year over year handle numbers

Before any races were run on Dec. 1, 2019, the yearly handle total was down 1.4% from Jan. 1 to Nov. 30, but the sharp decline in December handle assured the year-over-year loss. Of the four months with positive gains in 2019, the highest was November, fueled in-part by the Breeders’ Cup held at Santa Anita on the first two days of the month.

Handle numbers at host tracks on big racing days (Triple Crown race days, Travers Stakes day and Breeders’ Cup Friday and Saturday) were up 1.46% overall, despite a 29.78% handle decline on Belmont Stakes day with no Triple Crown on the line.

Host track handle on "big racing days"