Yet Monmouth up huge in the face of it.
Betting continues to drop
By Matt Hegarty
Handle on U.S. Thoroughbred races in May dropped by 8.3 percent compared to the same month last year, according to figures released on Friday by Equibase, a decline that indicates racing is continuing to struggle even as the economy shows indications of regaining some strength.
The decline, from $1.38 billion in May of last year to $1.26 billion this year, or $120 million, was influenced somewhat by the running this year of the Kentucky Oaks on April 30, compared to a May date last year. Handle on the Oaks card this year was $36 million, well above a typical Friday handle.