In September, betting on horse racing saw an increase, ending a four-month decline, largely due to more race days at Saratoga in 2026 compared to 2025. The late timing of Labor Day on September 7, as opposed to September 1 in 2025, allowed both Saratoga and Del Mar, the two top summer racing venues, to host more races this September.
According to data from Equibase, the trusted source for thoroughbred racing statistics, total wagering in the U.S. reached $769.2 million in September, marking a 4.33% rise from the $737.3 million bet in September 2025. This growth occurred despite having 7.06% fewer race days, 6.25% fewer races, and 6.42% fewer starts, resulting in a 12.26% increase in average betting per race day.
The average number of horses per race remained nearly steady, falling slightly from 7.19 to 7.17. Purse money also rose by 3.82%, climbing from $128.5 million to $133.4 million, with average daily purses increasing by 11.71% once adjusted for the reduced number of race days.
Saratoga, which leads the country in average daily betting volume, ran six race days in September 2026 compared to just one the previous year. There was a pause in New York racing between the end of Saratoga’s meet and the Belmont Park opening on September 18—Belmont ran six days but lost two key weekend days due to a major storm. In 2025, Belmont racing had shifted to Aqueduct because Belmont Park was under construction, with 12 days of racing held at the Big A. While individual track wagering figures aren’t publicly available, it’s assumed that the new Belmont Park outperformed Aqueduct’s daily average.
Del Mar also added an extra race day this September, holding five days of racing instead of four.
On a year-to-date basis, total U.S. pari-mutuel wagering dropped nearly $350 million (a 4.03% decline), even as purses remained nearly flat. Wagering has decreased more sharply than the reduction in race days (-2.93%) and races (-3.21%), but the number of starters fell by 5.80%. This was influenced by the average field size dropping from 7.38 to 7.18 runners per race over the first nine months, a trend expected to continue if race dates are not cut further. This decline parallels the shrinking North American foal crop, which is estimated at 15,850 foals in 2026, down from 21,119 a decade ago.
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Fan Take: This uptick in wagering and purses shows resilient fan interest and healthier competition at marquee meets like Saratoga and Del Mar. For horse racing enthusiasts, it’s a promising sign that strategic scheduling and venue improvements can revitalize betting activity and support the sport’s future amid challenges like declining foal crops.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
