A murder in Monticello; Betting on racing in the US has fallen sharply over the past twenty years – Horse Racing Mistakes

Bullville terrorsays the NYS Gaming Commission, “broke down” in the first race at Monticello yesterday and it is dead. He was eight years old.

A few more comments…

According to Equibase, betting on US races was down 2.1% in 2025 from ’24. Moreover, all the other important numbers – race days, races, starts and even purse money – were also down. But the news is even better, as explained by the Thoroughbred Daily News: “If we include inflation, the betting market has fallen about 57% over the past 22 years. 2025 was the sixth time in the last seven years that the betting market fell. The outlier was 2021…[which] was expected as the 2021 figures were compared to 2020, a year in which COVID caused the sport to lose a large number of race dates.”

Excellent.

As reported, Suburban Downs (harness) in Hawthorne has lost its operating license due to financial problems (including approximately $580,000 in bounced checks). The thoroughbred version in Hawthorne is expected to open on March 29, but that is now in jeopardy. According to the TDN, Hawthorne owes the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association $600,000 in back payments. That organization’s ED says, “There’s a very good chance the last horse race in the Chicago area has been held. Ever. Just imagine that. Washington Park. Arlington. Maywood. There’s a very good chance it’s over.”

Yes sir, I can imagine – and hope like hell.

And finally, on Turf Tuesday, this note for the 5-year-old Strength of Autism: “The power of autism collided with an inner enemy at the start… chased three wide and between rivals in the upper section, but was struck by the crop of an inner rider who reached the 16th pole and faded.”

Beaten by two different people in the same race. Despicable.

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