August Wagle Handle rises versus ’24 * The Racing Biz

Wijpen on US Thoroughbred Racing achieved modest profits in August 2025, even when racing opportunities fell slightly compared to last year.

Bettors threw $ 1.20 billion on American races during the month, an increase of 3.1% compared to August 2024 $ 1.17 billion. Portions also rose, with available money that climbed 7.2% to $ 153.1 million and paid purses by 6.3% to $ 145.3 million. Despite fewer racing days, those increases, a decrease from 3.9% to 400, and slightly less races and starts. The average bet per racing day increased by 7.3% to just over $ 3 million, while the average daily wallets grew by 11.5%.

Year-to-date figures tell a different story. Until August, the handle reached $ 7.94 billion, a decrease of 1.7% compared to the same period in 2024. Watches are also slightly eliminated, with available money with 1.7% and paid purses with 2.0%. The sport has run 4.1% less racing days and almost 4% fewer races compared to last year, while the total start fell by 3.3%. On the positive side, the average field size has risen to 7.41 starters per race, and both the average deployment and purses per racing day have improved modest.

Handle has fallen in five of eight months so far, with August, January and the exceptions. The total of Augustus was easily the second highest of the year, only with back May, when both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, two of the most important events of the sport from a deployment perspective, are kept.