The average annual starts per Thoroughbred runner in the U.S. and Canada in 2009 increased slightly for the first time since 1992. Meanwhile, the average field size for Thoroughbred races in the U.S. and Canada in 2009 increased to its highest level in five years.
Size of Field and Starts Per Horse
Size of Field and Starts by State or Province: 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 |
Year
Starters
Races
Starts
Avg.
Avg.
1950 22,388 26,932 244,343 9.07 10.91 1955 25,924 31,757 287,775 9.06 11.10 1960 29,798 37,661 337,060 8.95 11.31 1965 37,386 47,335 406,646 8.59 10.88 1970 47,778 56,676 488,326 8.62 10.22 1975 58,816 68,210 601,780 8.82 10.23 1980 64,506 68,243 593,849 8.70 9.21 1985 82,548 75,687 683,667 9.03 8.28 1990 89,716 79,971 712,494 8.91 7.94 1991 86,937 79,303 693,614 8.75 7.98 1992 83,404 77,712 669,967 8.62 8.03 1993 78,740 72,342 618,974 8.56 7.86 1994 74,955 70,699 587,404 8.31 7.84 1995 72,399 68,248 559,669 8.20 7.73 1996 70,450 64,388 534,861 8.31 7.59 1997 69,056 63,487 520,880 8.20 7.54 1998 68,697 61,293 500,710 8.17 7.29 1999 68,678 60,182 493,926 8.21 7.19 2000 69,569 60,872 493,682 8.11 7.10 2001 71,278 60,738 496,604 8.18 6.97 2002 72,825 59,896 495,228 8.27 6.80 2003 73,918 59,001 489,503 8.30 6.62 2004 74,206 58,858 487,428 8.28 6.57 2005 72,780 57,495 469,644 8.17 6.45 2006 72,729 56,902 462,937 8.14 6.37 2007 72,966 56,361 460,492 8.17 6.31 2008 72,638 55,069 450,095 8.17 6.20 2009 71,662 54,121 446,196 8.24 6.23
Figures include U.S. and Canada only
Source: Equibase Company LLC
