Numbers for Quarter Horse racing during the month of May were up across the board, showing increases in total races, purses, added money and handle, according to the American Quarter Horse Association.

Purses in the month of May jumped nearly 27 percent, from $12,333,435, in 2008, to $15,620,722. The number of races was up 2percent to 1,125. Added money jumped nearly 20 percent to $13.1 million, while handle increased 3 percent to $37,677,407.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the increases, especially given the state of the economy,” said AQHA executive director of racing Trey Buck.

Year-to-date statistics show a 13 percent jump in purses to $45,500,023, over the same period in 2008. Added money rose 11 percent to $39,227,876, while handle dropped 1.5 percent to $130,991,377.

Statistics for the Thoroughbred racing industry showed their handle down more than eight percent for May, while purses dropped nearly seven percent. Year-to-date Thoroughbred statistics show handle down 9.2 percent and purses down 5.5 percent.