The Great Contraction: A Macro-Analysis of U.S. Horse Racing
The state of American horse racing in early 2026 is at a critical juncture, defined by a "death spiral" of retail handle, a legal onslaught against the industry's power structures, and a technological shift that threatens to leave the average bettor behind. 1. The Handle Crisis: Inflation and the CAW Shadow The raw numbers tell a sobering story. Total U.S. handle for 2025 hovered around $11.03 billion, a 2.1% decline from 2024. While a $11 billion figure sounds robust, it is a mirage when adjusted for inflation. Since the 2003...
The Litigation Era: Can Mike Repole’s "Disruption" Save Racing?
Thoroughbred racing has long been a sport of tradition, but in 2026, the tradition of the "Old Boys’ Club" is meeting the modern reality of the courtroom. As of yesterday, January 19, 2026, Mike Repole has officially signaled that his role as the self-appointed "Commissioner" is shifting from advocate to litigator. For those who miss the glory days, the question isn't just whether racing can be saved, but whether the legal system is the only tool left to dismantle the silos of power that have resisted unity for decades. The...
The Brain’s Greatest Score: How the Man Who Fixed the World Series Took Saratoga for a Ride
If you follow me, or Past the Wire, you know the drill: we love a good caper. We don’t clutch our pearls when we talk about the history of the Sport of Kings; we lean in. Saratoga has a storied history, literally millions of stories buried under those elms, and not all of them are about flower blankets and canoe paint. I’ve already taken you down the rabbit hole of the 1970s race-fixing scandals with top riders like Angel Cordero, and we’ve dissected the modern-day algorithmic "Milkman" who always delivered....
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Apple Blossom Handicap Added to 2026 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series
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NEARLY STEPS INTO 3YO PICTURE WITH G3 HOLY BULL WIN
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