by Tom Rooney
The Thoroughbred racing and crossbreeding world is dwindling in central Kentucky this week. The excitement can be felt, Lexington is excited and anticipation is building every day as we move closer to the Breeders’ Cup World Championship taking place this weekend in Keeneland. And while the event will begin closing in on the 2022 race calendar, I am reflecting on my first year as President and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). ). Although I have been a thoroughbred enthusiast all my life, this is the first year that I have lived, eaten and breathed the Purebred breeding and racing like so many stakeholders, customers and other fans. The year has been filled with great races, record sales, incredible enthusiasm, and strong handling and planned participation. These and other stats make me more excited than ever to see what the future holds for the Purebred industry.
This year is a strong year for the race. Driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, where many of the biggest races are held without fans or limited numbers, this year’s Kentucky Derby welcomed nearly 150,000 people to Churchill Downs on Derby Day alone and brought to an almost unimaginable end. Attendance and handling metrics at the race’s top meetings are still as strong as they were. The amount of bonuses has also increased significantly, 10% higher than where we were at this time last year. Like in all aspects of post-COVID life, people are ready to get back on track, or at least they’re ready to get back to enjoying their favorite horse betting app.
We also had a very successful year in sales, with many records being set at multiple sales. OBS Spring Sale, the highest annual gross of all 2-year-old training sales, surpassed last year’s sales record by nearly $20 million. The Saratoga Select Yearling sale generated 10 seven-figures and topped its total revenue record from 2018 with over $4 million. Keeneland’s September Yearling sale, the leading source of equity champions and winners worldwide, saw the highest total sales in Keeneland auction history. With two sales shortly after the Breeders’ Cup and based on these trends, there’s every reason to be optimistic that sales will end the year strong.
This year also saw a significant increase in sports betting, as 36 states and the District of Columbia have legalized sports betting in some capacity in the four years since the Supreme Court decision. USA. The widespread adoption and legalization of sports betting across the country is an exciting thing for horse racing. We had the opportunity to introduce our product to a whole new world of people and a whole new generation of gamblers. With the expected addition of pari-mutuel horse racing betting to sports betting platforms with millions of account holders, I am very optimistic about the bright future we have on sports betting platforms. sports.
And finally, and most importantly, more emphasis has been placed on health, safety and wellbeing, and yes, caring for purebreds in 2022 than ever before. As we as an industry continue to evolve through creating greater national identity, we are improving the first American sport for generations to come.
In January, we will all come together to celebrate the success of the 2022 racing year, in Palm Beach, at the 52nd Annual Eclipse Awards held at Breakers. Many of the horses racing at the Breeders’ Cup this weekend will be prize contenders, and their success will determine many of this year’s champions. I’m excited to welcome the entire industry so we can celebrate the best together. While no good thing comes without its challenges, the Thoroughbred industry is thriving and the future is bright.
Tom Rooney is the President and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) and a former United States Representative representing Florida residents from 2009-2019.
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