Following is a partial list of noteworthy developments in American horse racing over the past couple of years:
The U. S. Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service finally modernized regulations pertaining to tax withholding on winning wagers. This has resulted in an estimated $75 million annual increase in pari-mutuel wagering on U. S. horse racing.
Racetracks offering the vast majority of Grade I and Grade II races are closely collaborating in scheduling of major stakes races, and this has provided a $150 million boost to pari-mutuel wagering, as predicted by a McKinsey & Company study done for The Jockey Club.
Keeneland opted for maximum takeout rates on its customers’ wagers but had a change of mind and reversed the decision.
Almost all of the states with racinos no longer earmark a portion of gaming revenues to horse-racing purses.
The Equine Injury Database reveals that fatal injuries have continued to dramatically decline–to .50 fatalities per thousand starts–as improvements have been made in racetrack surfaces and research has identified what horse profiles are most at risk, which has allowed state veterinarians to more accurately screen out horses that should not be racing. Another reason for the decrease in fatalities is that more racetracks have installed safer synthetic surfaces.
The federal Thoroughbred Horseracing Integrity Act of 2015 became law. Consequently, a government-sanctioned but private non-profit organization is setting and enforcing uniform medication rules for Thoroughbred horse racing, including out-of-competition testing. The organization designated furosemide or Lasix as a performance-enhancing drug.
Penn National Race Course has become a model for integrity.
The horse-racing industry reluctantly came to grips with the reality that its aftercare initiatives, while greatly commendable, were not saving nearly enough former racehorses. The outcome was a dependable and much increased flow of dollars to aftercare facilities funded by racetracks, auction houses, owners, trainers, breeders, and others whose businesses depend on racehorse commerce.
A major racing operation headquartered in Europe is plotting to achieve, arguably, the most difficult feat in horse racing: to win the Kentucky Derby on dirt in early May and the Epsom (English) Derby on turf in early June…with the same colt. Only two owners have ever attempted to do so, with Bold Arrangement in 1986 (2nd in the Kentucky Derby and 14th in the Epsom Derby) and Dr. Devious in 1992 (7th in the Kentucky Derby and 1st in the Epsom Derby).
A very lucky low-roller by the name of Bill Shanklin was the sole winner of the biggest Pick-6 payout in Breeders’ Cup history. Since then, only a few people and the IRS know of his whereabouts.
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