Purses rose significantly in September this year compared to September 21 while wagering on U.S. races saw a slight uptick, with a similar split showing for the third quarter of 2022 vs. 2021, according to the economic indicator statistics released by Equibase Wednesday.
Wagering totaled $936,206,774 in September, a 2.68% increase from the total of $911,734,704 in September 2021. This year's number, however, was a 9.98% drop-off from the $1,040,000,472 wagered in September 2020. Wagering per race day was $2,317,344, a 7% increase from last September, but an 18.67% drop from the $2,849,316 posted in September 2020.
In the third quarter of 2022, $3,275,502,012 was wagered, a 1.78% increase from the $3,218,160,111 in the third quarter of 2021, while year to date $9,540,539,563 has been bet, essentially flat compared to the $9,495,194,731 bet through three quarters of 2021. Average wagering per race day so far in 2022 also lines up with the 2021 numbers through three quarters at $2,960,143 and $2,965,395, respectively.
Purses for September totaled $138,277,267, a 6.96% increase from $129,279,561 in September 2021. The third quarter purse numbers were $393,292,695 this year, a 7.63% increase compared to $365,402,287 in the third quarter of 2021, while year to date $981,999,594 in purses have been paid out, a significant jump of 11.52% from the $880,553,979 awarded through three quarters in 2021.
Average field size was 7.23 in September and stands at 7.19 for the year, a slight decrease from 7.27 at this point in 2021.
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