Second quarter 2026 U.S. harness racing economic indicators show increases vs. 2025
Posted on July 10, 2026 from the USTA Communications Department
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Columbus, OH – All harness racing economic indicators including total wagering, per race and betting interest averages, as well as purses distributed showed increases during the second quarter of 2026 from April 1 through June 30 compared to the same timeframe in 2025.
Total wagering was $389,481,334, up by $9,058,787 and a 2.38% increase from the $380,422,597 wagered in the second quarter of 2025.
Some highlights from tracks that promoted their increased handle during the second quarter were:
• Oak Grove Racing, who has reported consistent, weekly handle increases during their meet including on the two days following the Kentucky Derby and on Memorial Day weekend.
Following the Kentucky Derby, more than $873,000 was bet on Monday, May 4, a 50% increase, with Tuesday, May 5 seeing betting up by 20% from 2025. To read more about what was the track’s best handle week ever, click here.
During Memorial Day weekend, handle nearly doubled on the holiday, Monday, May 25, and was up almost 50% the day after on Tuesday, May 26. To read their Memorial Day weekend story, click here.
• The Meadows surpassed $1 Million in daily handle Wednesday, Jan. 28 and saw more than $3 Million wagered during the week that also included Saturday, Jan. 24 and Thursday, Jan. 29. For the details, click here.
Average betting per race was $40,634, a $636 and 1.59% increase from 2025. There were 9,585 wagering races during the second quarter this year versus 9,511 a year ago.
From April 1 through June 30, $123,811,236 in purses were distributed compared to $121,535,681 last year. Race days were up from 817 to 834 in the second quarter, a 2.08% increase.
Recent news reported that wagering on Thoroughbred racing was down by 4.7% in June and has decreased by 4.52% for this year compared to 2025.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS ON U.S. RACES – April 1 through June 30, 2026 —
2026 vs 2025
2026 2025 % Change
Total Wagered $389,481,334 $380,422,597 + 2.38%
Per Race avg. $40,634 $39,998 + 1.59%
Per Betting Interest $5,268 $5,155 + 2.19%
Purses $123,811,236 $121,535,681 + 1.87%
Race Days 834 817 + 2.08%
