Handle and purses for U.S. racing each improved by more than 3%.
In the first full year after the National Thoroughbred Racing Association successfully completed a campaign to have the U.S. Treasury and Internal Revenue Service change its rules on reporting and withholding of large pari-mutuel winnings, wagering on U.S. races saw its largest single-season growth in 18 years.
Racing's economic indicators for 2018, released Jan. 4 by Equibase, showed wagering on U.S. races in 2018 improved 3.3% to $11,265,519,563. It marks the fourth straight year pari-mutuel wagering has improved and is the largest single-season gain since the 4.4% improvement in 2000.
