Dead Athletes, Empty Stands, why do we support this, asks The New York Times

[Wolverine]

 
Here is the free link to the article:  code=1.0U4.-qYT.6C56ZCOclJTP&smid=url-share" class="bbc_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/opinion/horse-racing-government-subsidies.html?unlocked_article_ code=1.0U4.-qYT.6C56ZCOclJTP&smid=url-share

Complete with photo of Joe Faraldo, interview with Jeff Gural, and interviews with grooms and others who endure substandard working conditions and get fired if they report injuries.

[Wolverine]

From the article:  "In exchange for the slot machine money, many tracks must agree to run race after race, regardless of whether anyone’s betting or watching. At Yonkers Raceway there are eight to 12 races per evening, 240 nights per year, seven or more horses to a race — utter indifference on infinite repeat.

One result is a marked deterioration of the tracks themselves. The gambling giant MGM Resorts, which owns the bedraggled Yonkers track and the cash-gushing casino next door, loses up to $25,000 on every racing day. That’s table stakes for the real prize: a chance to open a full-blown casino in the New York City area, which could be worth billions per year. It’s a good gamble for MGM but not for racing fans. Mr. Faraldo likened the neglected raceways to “a party where there’s all ugly girls,” before thinking better of the metaphor."

[Ignorance Is Bliss]

Oh, did The Times finally print that story I was talking about over the summer Noah wrote? I was fixing fences when I had an incredibly deep conversation with him. He was shocked. BTW Mr. Faraldo? He had no idea who you were until I told him. Sowwy! 

[simplify]

everything isn't about you dude

[Ignorance Is Bliss]

everything isn't about you dude

A lot more is than you could ever imagine dickhead. Keep blowing the criminals that own you. Jackass. 

[Ignorance Is Bliss]

[Grandstand Handicapper]

everything isn't about you dude

Actually, it is. It has to be. And if something happens that isn't, he will make it so. It's all part of the sickness.

[Vince Treanor]

The editorial asks a legitimate question.

[Kenny]

Here is the free link to the article:  code=1.0U4.-qYT.6C56ZCOclJTP&smid=url-share" class="bbc_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/opinion/horse-racing-government-subsidies.html?unlocked_article_ code=1.0U4.-qYT.6C56ZCOclJTP&smid=url-share

Complete with photo of Joe Faraldo, interview with Jeff Gural, and interviews with grooms and others who endure substandard working conditions and get fired if they report injuries.

The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote several articles about this subject many years ago.  Unfortunately these are behind a paywall.

Pa.'s horse-racing industry gets more state money than Health ...
https://www.inquirer.com/philly/business/horse-racing-casinos-slots-purses-gaming-20180406.html

Gift horses: Slots players send $1.5 billion bouquet to Pa.'s race industry. by Sam Wood and Frank Kummer, Philly.com
https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/Gift_horses_Slots_players_send_1_billion_bouquet_to_Pas_race_industry.html

[Yonkers1A]

Here is the free link to the article:  code=1.0U4.-qYT.6C56ZCOclJTP&smid=url-share" class="bbc_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/opinion/horse-racing-government-subsidies.html?unlocked_article_ code=1.0U4.-qYT.6C56ZCOclJTP&smid=url-share

Complete with photo of Joe Faraldo, interview with Jeff Gural, and interviews with grooms and others who endure substandard working conditions and get fired if they report injuries.

Another nail in the coffin, I suspect the new Casino licenses will have no connection to racing, the beginning of the end.

[davenchop]

highlight the link
then hit Ctrl C

go to archive.fo

then paste into box..

[Stan durbread]

All bullshit articles that don’t even come close to the real facts. If not for horse track the public would have never allowed casinos. The most popular phrase was I don’t want gambling in my neighborhood but there is already gambling over there. Oh and if the subsidies end, the money will all go to casino companies not state coffers

[HayDaze]

All bullshit articles that don’t even come close to the real facts. If not for horse track the public would have never allowed casinos. The most popular phrase was I don’t want gambling in my neighborhood but there is already gambling over there. Oh and if the subsidies end, the money will all go to casino companies not state coffers

I never could understand why people think the slot money should just stay in the casinos corporate pockets instead of helping local economies. Why is it wrong that the money that was legally allotted to go towards the purses, should now just stay with the casinos, or maybe just be given to the crooked states to spend on trans dance lessons in Nigeria

[Grandstand Handicapper]

What about when casino money, slots money, etc., is not given as a so called "subsidy," to a racetrack? Is that "wrong" too? I am guessing that racetracks must be completely and fully self-sufficient, and profitable. Off-track handle doesn't count? Other lines of business don't count? I guess not. I've long said that the people who run racetracks don't understand the racetrack business. I guess the people here do. LOL.

[Yonkers1A]

All bullshit articles that don’t even come close to the real facts. If not for horse track the public would have never allowed casinos. The most popular phrase was I don’t want gambling in my neighborhood but there is already gambling over there. Oh and if the subsidies end, the money will all go to casino companies not state coffers

Ask Pompano horseman how the real facts helped them