Pari-mutuel betting on U.S. Thoroughbred racing in October 2026 increased by over 10 percent compared to 2025, according to Equibase, mainly due to over $114 million wagered on the 12-race Breeders’ Cup World Championships held at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, on October 31. In contrast, the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Saturday event took place on November 1. Additionally, October 2026 featured nine weekend days, one more than the eight in 2025.
The combined betting handle on October 31, the second day of the 2026 Breeders’ Cup, represented nearly 12 percent of the monthly total of $958.7 million—a 10.41 percent increase from the $868.3 million bet in October 2025, which ended with the Breeders’ Cup Friday races on October 31. However, if you exclude the Breeders’ Cup wagers totaling $114.3 million from October 31, the overall betting in October 2026 actually declined by 2.7 percent compared to the previous year.
The Breeders’ Cup Saturday also significantly inflated U.S. purse figures, making direct year-over-year comparisons less meaningful. Looking forward, November 2026 betting figures, excluding any Breeders’ Cup revenue, are anticipated to fall below those of 2025.
Betting declined for both Breeders’ Cup days in 2026. The Friday card on October 30 saw a 13.5 percent drop compared to 2025, while Saturday’s event on October 31 decreased by 3.2 percent from the November 1, 2025 program. Combined, the two Breeders’ Cup days generated $167.9 million in wagering, down 6.7 percent from the prior year.
The regular Keeneland Fall meet, which wrapped up on October 24 before the Breeders’ Cup, experienced a $31.9 million decline in betting from the 2025 meet, a 14.7 percent decrease. Keeneland officials attributed this to a smaller average field size of 8.60 runners per race, compared to 9.21 the previous year, and the shifting of several races from dirt to turf due to rainy conditions.
Nationally, the average field size for all U.S. races in October slightly decreased from 7.69 to 7.54 runners per race. Year-to-date, the average was 7.22 compared to 7.41 in 2025. For the year overall, total wagering on U.S. races has dropped 2.71 percent from 2025. The only upward trend year-to-date is in purse money, which in many regions increasingly relies on alternative gaming revenue streams.
This article originally appeared in the November 5, 2026 edition of Paulick Report’s News section.
Fan Take:
This report highlights the growing reliance on marquee events like the Breeders’ Cup to drive betting handle, underscoring the challenges faced by regular racing meets. Horse racing enthusiasts should watch these trends closely, as sustained declines outside of major events could impact the sport’s long-term health and the funding that keeps racing vibrant across the country.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
