Racetracks NAICS 711212

Mar 16, 2026 - Wearable Tech Could Improve Racetrack Safety

• Advances in data technology and imaging could improve safety and performance in the US racetrack industry, according to experts at a recent panel reported by the American Veterinary Medical Association. At the 2025 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) conference, attended by more than 4,800 participants, experts discussed how wearable sensors and advanced imaging could help detect injuries earlier in racehorses. A JAVMA study analyzing stride data from 11,834 Thoroughbreds across 28,481 races (July 2021–May 2024) found that horses with the highest risk score were 44.6 times more likely to suffer a fatal musculoskeletal injury than those with the lowest score. Researchers also noted that 118 horses, just 0.4% of starts, accounted for 4.2% of fatal injuries, highlighting the potential to identify high-risk horses earlier. For racetracks, wider use of sensors, AI, and imaging technologies could improve equine safety oversight and support data-driven decisions by trainers, veterinarians, and regulators.
• Weakening consumer confidence may weigh on discretionary spending tied to entertainment activities such as horse racing and wagering, according to recent data from the University of Michigan. Its Index of Consumer Sentiment fell to 55.5 in March 2026, down 1.9% from February and 2.6% year over year. While the Current Economic Conditions index rose 2.1% month over month to 57.8, it remained 9.4% below March 2025, reflecting continued economic caution. The Index of Consumer Expectations declined 4.4% to 54.1, and expectations for personal finances fell 7.5% nationally, according to Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu. Inflation concerns also persist, with year-ahead inflation expectations at 3.4%, above the 2.3–3.0% pre-pandemic range. For the US racetracks industry, which depends heavily on discretionary spending for admissions, wagering, and events, weaker sentiment and rising inflation expectations could dampen consumer willingness to spend on leisure activities.

• US racetracks ended 2025 under continued financial pressure as wagering on Thoroughbred racing fell 2.1% year over year to just over $11 billion, marking the fourth consecutive annual decline, according to Equibase data reported in The Paulick Report. December handle dropped a sharper 7.3%, reflecting fewer race days and races rather than weaker per-event performance. In fact, wagering and purses per race day rose modestly, indicating that remaining dates are carrying more economic weight. For operators, the results mask a deeper structural challenge: total races have fallen 45% since 2003, while wagering is down 27% over the same period. Purses now equal 11.6% of handle, up from 7.2% in 2000, underscoring racetracks’ growing reliance on alternative revenues such as gaming subsidies. Without new growth drivers, the industry risks handle falling below $11 billion in 2026, intensifying consolidation and financial strain for US racetracks.
• The racing-related equine fatality rate was 1.02 fatalities per 1,000 starts in Q3 2025, equating to 99.9% of all Thoroughbred horserace starts occurring without a fatality within 72 hours of racing due to race-related injuries, according to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s (HISA) most recent metrics report. For training-related fatalities, HISA has seen a 10% year over year decrease in Q3 2025, falling to 0.38 deaths per 1,000 workouts. The metric measures the horses that die or are euthanized within 72 hours of training as a result of injuries sustained during training. Twelve racetracks posted progress in their year-over-year racing fatality rate in Q3 2025, among the 29 racetracks open for racing during the quarter.