Pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing in the United States has been in a downward spiral. Some of the attrition in handle undoubtedly stems from the 9.1 percent national unemployment rate; comprised of 9.6 percent for men and 8.5 percent for women. However, current unemployment is not the chief culprit in the tumble in wagering because [...]

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In recent weeks, a host of people have rightfully decried the flailing of a few of the mounts in notable stakes races, primarily by European-based jockeys. Jamie Spencer worked over an injured Cape Blanco to win the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park and Christophe Soumillon was suspended for five days and fined £50,000 for a whip [...]

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The Monday morning paper reiterated what I had repeatedly heard Sunday on television and radio and read about on the Internet. Dan Wheldon, 33 years of age, died at a hospital of injuries incurred in a fiery 15-car pileup during Sunday’s Las Vegas Indy 300. He won the Indy 500 for the second time on [...]

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