Serving the Washington Thoroughbred Industry for over 65 years
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Washington's
Thoroughbred Industry
The Finish Line is Only the Beginning
Updated for 2003-2004
(2005
statistics not yet available)
Thoroughbreds are a Major Industry
In the United States in 2004:
$15,099,000,000 was wagered on Thoroughbred races.
$1,092,100,000 was distributed in purse money.
There were 6,928 racing days during which 53,595 races
were run.
The figures above are for Thoroughbred racing only and do not take into account Standardbred, Quarter Horse or other breeds’ racing statistics.
The State of Washington
The state
of Washington is one of 40 states or provinces which have legalized pari-mutuel
wagering on Thoroughbred horses. In 2004 there were 128 different racetracks in
operation in 40 states and Canada.
The Washington
state legislature passed into law the Pari-Mutuel Racing Act in 1933 and in the
past 72 years Washington has become one of the nation’s leading states in
both the racing and breeding aspects of the industry. As a measure of showing
the tremendous growth of the racehorse industry in Washington state, note that
in 1933 Washington collected a total of $7,805 in taxes.
Economically, the total annual investment of the
Washington Thoroughbred industry is estimated at over $280 million.
In 2004:
91
days of racing were conducted at Washington's main track, Emerald Downs.
More than $145 million was wagered on Thoroughbred
races at Emerald Downs, Sun Downs, Walla Walla, Dayton and Waitsburg.
In 2004:
$1,898,992 was the amount of revenue collected by Washington’s local and
state governments as a result of taxation from Thoroughbred horse racing.
The $1,898,992 is collected from licensing,
registrations and pari-mutuel taxes by the Washington Horse Racing Commission
(WHRC) which oversees the entire Washington Thoroughbred industry from a
regulatory position, providing security of association grounds, performing
investigations of licensees and satellite applications and working with law
enforcement agencies to ensure the integrity of the sport/industry.
Figures provided by the Washington Horse Racing Commission.
On a National Level
In 2003, Washington
state ranked 11th behind Kentucky, Florida, California, New York, Texas,
Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Illinois and New Mexico in both the number
and percentage of Thoroughbred foals registered with The Jockey Club.
Further, Washington ranks high in the number of
stakes winners produced. Higher than 80 percent of the stakes races won by
Washington-bred horses were unrestricted.
For
2003, a total of 721 Washington Thoroughbred foals were registered (through
October 1, 2005), which is two percent of the total 36,492 foals registered by
all states and Canada.
 |
A Lucrative Awards Program Offered to owners
and breeders of Washington Thoroughbreds, it is one of the best in the
nation. |
Facts
Concerning
Washington’s Thoroughbred Industry
Number of breeding
farms, varying in size from a few acres to several hundred acres, in virtually
every county of the state: 220
Number of
acres devoted to breeding and raising Thoroughbred horses in the state of
Washington: 9,000
Number of members of the
Washington Thoroughbred Breeders Association: 625
Number of Thoroughbred stallions at stud in
Washington: 75
Number of Thoroughbred
broodmares in the stud in Washington: 1,150
Number of persons employed at Thoroughbred farms: 1,000
Number of persons licensed by the Washington Horse
Racing Commission (all categories including grooms, jockeys, exercise riders,
owners, trainers) in 2004: 4,549
Number of
owners licensed by the WHRC in 2004: 1,812
Number of trainers licensed by the WHRC in 2004: 159
Costs Involved to Owners Commencing with the Purchase of a Yearling
Cost of a yearling at public sale in Washington, from a low of $400 to a high
of $185,000, average estimated: $11,000 |
 |
Some figures estimated.
Statistics supplied by the Washington Horse Racing Commission and the
Killingsworth and Associates’ economic impact study.
Photos ©
Barbara D. Livingston.