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January 05, 2012
MEDIA ADVISORY

THOROUGHBRED RACING ECONOMIC INDICATORS
For December 2011


Editor’s Note: The year-over-year increase in U.S. wagering from December 2011 — when compared to December 2010 — represented the first increase since November 2009. Of note was the closure of New York City Off Track Betting Corp. on Dec. 7, 2010.

Figures for the fourth quarter of 2011 surpassed those for the fourth quarter of 2010 — with wagering up 1.37%, race days up 4.40% and purses up 10%. The last quarter to show an increase for wagering occurred during the third quarter of 2007 (17 quarters ago), when wagering was up .68% when compared to the third quarter of 2006.

For the year 2011, U.S. purses experienced a 2.89% increase when compared to 2010. The last yearly upturn for purses occurred in 2007, when the increase was 3.63% over 2006.

December 2011 vs. December 2010
Indicator December 2011 December 2010 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $800,597,776 $679,180,778 +17.88%
U.S. Purses $69,878,527 $56,543,832 +23.58%
U.S. Race Days 348 314 +10.19%

YTD 2011 vs. YTD 2010
Indicator Annual 2011 Annual 2010 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $10,770,426,313 $11,415,381,587 -5.65%
U.S. Purses $1,057,392,389 $1,027,731,620 +2.89%
U.S. Race Days 5,298 5,473 -3.20%

* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.

Contact: Rhonda Norby, Marketing and Communications Manager, (859) 224-2856