Horse Racing Betting Handle Sees Steady Growth In 2021

• Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey sees 11 straight $3 million Saturday handle in 2021.
• Racetracks were shut down in 2020 due to COVID-19.
• The upcoming Triple Crown events are expected to see a lot of action this year with new markets.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Horse racing betting fans have been active so far in 2021, with the year gearing up to see major increases in betting activity.

This could be attributed to the lack of events this time last year due to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. Many events were postponed or canceled, and racetracks were closed.

With more racetracks open this time, and legal gambling fans eager to place action on horse racing events, betting handle has seen major highs so far in 2021.

Horse Racing Betting Boom

A good example of how legal horse racing has seen a lot of betting activity is in New Jersey.

At the Meadowlands Racetrack, horse racing betting fans have placed more than $3 million on Saturday races for 11 consecutive weeks. This steady growth shows a strong interest in horse racing betting in the area.

The racetrack was, unfortunately, shut down this time last year due to the pandemic, leaving them in with no revenue for months.

Horse racing betting fans clearly missed placing action at the racetrack, as they have never seen the number of wagers so consistently on a weekly basis.

Meadowlands and other legal New Jersey racetracks have seen record highs in betting activity early in the year, which is a good sign for how things will progress. Major events like the Triple Crown races are sure to bring in a lot of betting activity.

Triple Crown Betting

Many new markets have launched legal horse racing betting along with legal sports betting and will be able to host betting lines for the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.

With the new markets available, there are sure to be all-time high betting handles for these Triple Crown Races.

Due to COVID-19 forcing the postponement and rescheduling of Triple Crown races and the lack of players physically at the racetrack, the Kentucky Derby saw a 50% decrease in wagers last year.

This year’s event, which will be held in its normal Summer slot of May 1 should see an influx in wagers compared to last year’s September race.

While it has yet to be determined whether or not fans will be able to attend the event, online wagers from the many new markets alone should raise the overall betting handle of the Kentucky Derby.