Wagering handle nationally declined by 3.7% in 2023 versus the prior year, according to data released Friday by Equibase Company.

Total handle, including worldwide commingled handle, on U. S. races was $11.658 billion in 2023. That was down from a shade over $12.1 billion in 2022 and was the lowest national handle since the pandemic-plagued 2020 season. The national peak of handle occurred in 2003, when wagering reached $15.18 billion.

Handle rose in December, jumping around $50 million (6.62%) to more than $797 million. That snapped a streak of eight consecutive months in which handle was lower than it had been in the corresponding month last year. 

Purses also dropped mildly, down less than one percent, while races and race days dropped more significantly. The number of races contested nationally, 31,746, was just over 5% less than last year’s total. It, like handle, continued a steady downward trend, which in the last 20 or so years has seen the number of races decline from 53.500 in 2003 to fewer than 32,000 this year.

In happier news, field size, wagering per race day, and available purses per day all showed year-over-year increases. All three benefited from fewer races being conducted.

The average 2023 field was 7.43 horses, up 1.85% from last year. According to statistics from the Jockey Club, field size was consistently above eight horses per race until 2012 but has not reached that level since.

Average daily wagering topped $3 million in 2023, up a little less than 2% versus the prior year, while daily purses of more than $336,000 were almost 10% above those of 2022.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!