Betting figures compiled for the first eight months of this year compared with the same period last year indicate an almost five per cent increase in the number of favourites winning races at Caymanas Park.

In the eight-month period under consideration in 2016, 41.45 per cent of horses starting with the tag of favourite got the job done for their backers. In 2015 the total percentage of winning favourites was 37.15. Of special note is the fact in 2016, 497 races were run as compared to 506 in 2015.

There were slight increases in 2016 of favourites in the money and the average winning odds of horses.

In 2015, favourites in the money stood at 69.17 per cent compared with 72.64 per cent in 2016, an increase of over three per cent.

The category of average winning odds moved from 4.50 to one (4.5 to 1) in 2015 to 4.84 to one thus far in 2016.

When individual betting options are analysed, there is quite a jump in the average payout in the win column, moving from $287.82 in 2015 to $363.66.