Yesterday, The New York Times ran a guest essay by renowned journalist Noah Shachtman. The title: “Dead Athletes. Empty Stands. Why Are We Paying Billions to Keep This Sport Alive?” I couldn’t have come up with a better one myself. As for the piece, it is one of the best treatments on racing yet – and without question the best ever allowed by The Times (see Joe Drape). Please know that HW contributed mightily, both with our data/information and through multiple conversations with the writer.
Obviously, we want you to support the entire work, so I’ll share just a few highlights:
“As misguided as [NY subsidies] sounds, it is a surprisingly common arrangement. Maryland uses as much as $91 million a year in slot machine revenue to prop up its horse racing industry. The state last year agreed to acquire the decrepit Pimlico track and invest up to an additional $400 million to upgrade it. Pennsylvania has sunk over $3.5 billion over the past two decades into its racehorse development fund. Even Kentucky, the storied home of American horse racing, relies on a similar machine. Without them, ‘we would have a few days of racing at Churchill Downs,’ Elisabeth Jensen, a former executive at the Kentucky Equine Education Project Foundation, said, ‘and that would be about it.'”
“Another key distinction [between racing and real sports]: Those other sports don’t routinely kill their athletes. The antiracing advocacy organization Horseracing Wrongs has shown that 11,000 horses have been put to death at American racetracks since 2014.”
“So why do it? Why keep propping up a pastime that, despite many attempted overhauls, can’t keep its fans and takes such a heavy toll on its athletes and workers? Our state and local governments struggle to pay teachers what they’re worth, to build affordable housing, to put enough firefighters on a rig.”
“The obvious solution here is also the simplest: Just stop. Let the sport stand on its own and dwindle to whatever size its fan base supports. Instead, state legislatures keep funneling money to it. ‘The biggest fear that our industry has is that the states are going to stop subsidizing, using slot machines to subsidize the sport,’ said Jeff Gural, who owns three harness racing tracks. ‘Without that, there is no sport.'”
“The difference between the torrent of money coming from casinos and the relatively paltry trickle coming from horse racing bets has warped the sport’s priorities to such a degree that racing can resemble at its worst moments a shell industry – a desiccated husk of a pastime, with Potemkin tracks running races as a pretext for the real business next door.”
And finally:
“Any of those rationales might’ve held up, back when horse racing was a thriving industry that could stand on its own…. But now, it relies on billions of dollars worth of our good will to get by. The owners and trainers run races on tracks we own. They pay their workers – well, let’s hope they’re paying their workers – with our money. Every dollar they get to skip in taxes is one that, at least in theory, has to be made up elsewhere. The sport belongs to us. It’s time to think about whether we actually want it.”
Thank you, Mr. Shachtman.
As well as being an extremely cruel business/sport that polices itself and animal cruelty laws are given a pass, it is more than likely the most corrupt.
It is the only “sport” where extreme cruelty and corruption are not only tolerated but are heavily subsidized.
Much as I would like to believe the cruel exploitation of its athletes will finally shut it down, it will not end because of the cruelty, it will end when the subsidies end.
Unfortunately, Carol,President Trump probably could careless as these subsidies are on a state by state basis like our state of Oregon where a tiny % tax on Hub $$ wagering is placed into an account that subsidizes the 1/2 mile bull ring county fair type meets here as well as the foal registry reimbursement program to. Some of the funds also go to support the states breeders / owners association as well. We say end ALL subsidies & lets see how long this industry lasts.
Carol, donald trump is a well known not into animals person..his sons are crazed hunters.If you’re looking for compassion for ANIMALS….think other than donald trump.
Someone should bring this up to President Trump. With the current streamlining of waste in government this should be an easy task. This may not be a Federal issue, but tax reform is tax reform.
The title of this well written article is great! It hits the nail on the head!
Speaking of the carnage of horses exploited for racing, there were two Standardbred mares with freeze brands in a kill pen recently posted on Facebook. One was born in 2001 and the other one was born in 2008. The names, pictures, videos and racing history of each were posted on the Facebook post offering them for a price.
They were posted as “tagged and chipped” which allegedly means they will be loaded onto the slaughterhouse bound truck if not rescued by someone or a group with money and compassion for the mares. The one born in 2001 was in extremely rough shape and was lame in the hindquarters. Some of the hair on her left hip was missing. She had produced a number of foals after winning a lot of money for her exploiters.
It’s socially unacceptable to allow people to use horses in such an abusive manner and then discard them like garbage. It’s cruel and it’s heartbreaking to see this callous indifference to the “athletes”!
If human athletes died from a sport at the rate racehorses die, the sport would be outlawed. Horse people must encourage responsible horse ownership. Shift the focus from disposable racing horses to long-term care and companionship. Stop the breeding of horses for recreation and racing requires a combination of legal, economic, and cultural changes. Introduce higher fees for registering foals and impose penalties for overbreeding. Finally, as one veterinary student said in the comment section of the Times article: “When I was in veterinary school, one of the equine surgeons said to us “‘if we were doing what was best for the horses they wouldn’t be racing. iIt is terrible for them.'”
“Any of those rationales might’ve held up, back when horse racing was a thriving industry that could stand on its own…. But now, it relies on billions of dollars worth of our good will to get by.”
This, more than anything else, encapsulates the current state of the horse racing industry in a nutshell. Even Meadowlands owner Jeff Gural sees the handwriting on the wall, knowing that, without those subsidies, this ‘sport’ is finished.
As a former bettor and thoroughbred racing enthusiast, I can tell you, yes, this WAS once a thriving industry – so much so, that we often had to call ahead to reserve a table whether it be in New York, California, Florida or Kentucky – and NOT just on the ‘big’ days! The reason this is so relevant is because when the industry WAS thriving, better care was taken of the horses, since they actually had to compete to win – NOT get a ‘take-home trophy’ (i.e., $$$) just for showing up and loping around the oval, and, more than likely, while sick or infirm.
The word is out – the emperor has no clothes – and everyone in the business knows this and is scrambling – hoping to take home that last dollar before the industry finally shuts down for good.
While the ‘season’ is ramping up now with the Kentucky Derby, the Triple Crown, the boutique Saratoga and Del mar meets coming up, you’ll see some interest and definitely some sold out crowds. But make no mistake, this is the last gasp. If I may prognosticate for a moment, I see the entire racing industry done and over within ten years.
Now, I may be wrong. But I see nothing to show me any signs of new life in this terrible business. I left a few years ago, and many more are following. I can honestly say that I’ve met absolutely NO ONE who has said to me, ‘Hey, we discovered this great new pastime. “Horse Racing”
-Joe
Thank you, Jonathan.
The antiracing advocacy organization Horseracing Wrongs has shown that 11,000 horses have been put to death at American racetracks since 2014.”?
It’s More Than 11,000 Horses? Lots Of Racetracks Stop Reporting Because It Makes Them Look Really Bad?
Keeneland, Del Mar & Saratoga & Belmont & Churchill Downs Top 5 Until 2030?
Molly
Penn National & Parx In PA – Drugs Are Really Bad! Close 2026?
Molly
We Told Frank & Belinda Stronach To Pull Out 5 Years Ago – Horse Racing Was Going Downhill!
Especially Gulfstream Park & Santa Anita Park – Hopefully 2026/2027/2028!
Top Trainers Drugging Horses To Win Big Races!
Molly
Patrick: Glad to see your tireless efforts get recognized on a platform that so publicly calls for action. Keep up the good work.