Down 72%: Lone Star handle drops $36.9 million in 2023

Unable to export its signal for simulcast wagering anywhere except within Texas and to Canada, Lone Star Park handled $36,926,157 less in 2023 than in 2022.

The Dallas-area track handled $14,573,630 between April 13 and Tuesday, a 72 percent drop from 2022 when the track handled $51,499,787. This year's steep decline fell 82 percent fall from 2021's record handle of $81,289,170.

Purses also suffered but not as much. Lone Star horsemen raced for $11,340,625 this year, down 9 percent from last year, but that total was still 61 percent more than the $4,296,425 in purses in 2019, when handle nearly triple what is was this year.

The imbroglio stemmed from Texas Racing Commission executive director Amy Cook interpreting Texas law as only authorizing the state racing commission to regulate horse racing in the state, which excluded the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority from being involved. Without HISA involvement, though, Texas Thoroughbred racing lost their ability to simulcast via the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978.

"As a resident of the area it was incredibly sad knowing that without some sense of urgency by the Texas Racing Commission, the state could easily be reduced to just quarter-horse racing going forward, and I doubt Amy Cook would care," said Karl Broberg, whose End Zone Athletics has been the leading owner the last three seasons at Lone Star. "There has been no effort on their part to articulate any sort of plan."

Also in Texas, Sam Houston took an even bigger hit earlier this year, losing $95,326,353, or 94 percent, when going from a record $101,716,901 in 2022 to just $6,390,548. Overall in 2023 across both tracks, handle on Texas Thoroughbred racing is down 86 percent from $153,216,688 last year to $20,964,175. Purses fell just 13 percent from $24,671,396 to $21,472,885.

"It was the longest funeral procession since Queen Elizabeth passed away," Broberg said of the 2023 season in Texas. "Also, it had the same vibe where you knew your time should be spent elsewhere, but you kept watching anyways."