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Was Apex 4-1 just before the start, or did some bettors cancel their bets on him after he broke, meaning doing so after the windows should have been closed?
Big Ranger is a big phony. A horse that race against weak sauce in Ohio with owners who smdeserve everything coming to them
wow people are still crying about that trainer change? It’s beyond time to move on
You are highlighting one of harness racing’s most beloved tropes—the small-circuit underdog rising to the sport's grandest stage—but the two stories actually stand in stark, heartbreaking contrast.While [Roger Hammer](https://www.google.com/search?q=roger+hammer&kgmid=/g/11f0vd54dq) lived out the ultimate fairy tale with Vivid Photo, Ronnie Gillespie was cruelly denied his chance to see his dream through with Big Ranger.## 🌟 The Fairytale: Roger Hammer & Vivid PhotoIn 2005, Roger Hammer was widely known as the "King of the County Fairs", spending his days grinding out small-purse races on the Pennsylvania fair circuit. He developed a 3-year-old gelding named Vivid Photo, whom he co-owned, trained, and drove himself. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] Even during the week of the [Hambletonian](https://www.google.com/search?q=Hambletonian+on+2005-08-06&kgmid=/m/01h0sf), Hammer missed the introductory press conference because he was busy racing at the Clearfield County Fair. Despite the massive step up in competition, Hammer kept himself in the sulky and drove [Vivid Photo](https://www.hambletonian.com/hambletonianhistory/2005) to an unforgettable 7-1 upset victory at the Meadowlands, creating one of the greatest and most popular "little guy" triumphs in harness racing history. [3, 4, 6, 7] ## 💔 The Heartbreak: Ronnie Gillespie & Big RangerRonnie Gillespie appeared to be on the exact same trajectory twenty years later. Gillespie, a respected veteran who established himself on the Ohio circuit, developed a $25,000 yearling purchase named Big Ranger into a absolute superstar. Under Gillespie's guidance, the colt went an undefeated 7-for-7 as a two-year-old, winning the 2025 Ohio Triple Crown and being named Ohio Horse of the Year. [8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14] Gillespie openly talked about his lifelong dream of driving his star horse in the [Hambletonian](https://www.google.com/search?q=hambletonian&kgmid=/m/01h0sf). However, the general public did not get the happy ending they hoped for. In May 2026, just as the colt was preparing for his sophomore Grand Circuit campaign, the ownership group, Madison Global, abruptly stripped Gillespie of the horse without detailed public explanation. [8, 15, 16, 17] Big Ranger was transferred to a high-profile stable and entered the 2026 Hambletonian as the pre-race favorite with a different driver in the bike, while Gillespie was left to watch his masterpiece from afar. [8, 16] The public certainly loves the "fair to the Hambo" story—but unfortunately, only Roger Hammer got to cross the finish line. [8, 18] [1] [https://www.seattletimes.com](https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/harness-racing-vivid-photo-captures-hambletonian/)[2] [https://www.facebook.com](https://www.facebook.com/HambletonianSociety/posts/hambletonian-80-2005-meadowlands-racetrack-roger-hammers-success-at-the-fairs-ea/1736981360511158/)[3] [https://www.latimes.com](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-aug-07-sp-horsesep7-story.html)[4] [https://www.nytimes.com](https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/07/sports/othersports/at-hambletonian-driver-graduates-to-bigger-payday.html)[5] [https://www.post-gazette.com](https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/other-sports/2005/08/07/the-hambletonian-photo-finish-wins-it/stories/200508070193)[6] [https://www.drf.com](https://www.drf.com/news/hambletonian-one-little-guy)[7] [https://www.facebook.com](https://www.facebook.com/HambletonianSociety/videos/from-the-pa-fairs-to-the-hambo-winners-circle-what-a-race-featuring-vivid-photos/1116157340489333/)[8] [https://harnesslink.com](https://harnesslink.com/gillespie-watches-hambletonian-dream-unfold/)[9] [https://www.facebook.com](https://www.facebook.com/OhioHarnessHorsemensAssociation/posts/driver-ronnie-gillespie-recorded-his-1000th-career-driving-win-when-he-steered-t/1313104544157543/)[10] [https://www.ohha.com](https://www.ohha.com/news/madison-global-scores-big-with-big-ranger-2/)[11] [https://standardbredcanada.ca](https://standardbredcanada.ca/news/7-22-25/gillespie-and-his-hopes-more-big-things.html)[12] [https://www.drf.com](https://www.drf.com/news/miami-valley-big-ranger-aims-big-stage-2026)[13] [https://ustrottingnews.com](https://ustrottingnews.com/big-ranger-named-2025-ohio-horse-of-the-year/)[14] [https://www.ohha.com](https://www.ohha.com/news/big-ranger-captures-ohio-triple-crown-to-highlight-oss-scarlet-championships-for-trotters-at-dayton-raceway/)[15] [https://pressprosmagazine.com](https://pressprosmagazine.com/2026/08/05/mccoy-gillespies-dream-turns-nightmare-overnight-loses-ride-in-hambletonian/)[16] [https://harnessracingupdate.com](https://harnessracingupdate.com/2026/08/07/gillespies-big-dream-turns-into-huge-disappointment-as-hambletonian-favorite-big-ranger-taken-away/)[17] [https://standardbredcanada.ca](https://standardbredcanada.ca/news/5-29-26/lorentzon-takes-over-training-big-ranger.html)[18] [https://www.hambletonian.com](https://www.hambletonian.com/hambletonianhistory/2005)
ess racing is alive.
handle schmandleits not 2000purses and opportunities at all time high
The economic consensus from public finance experts, independent state auditors, and economists indicates that redirecting horse racing subsidies toward public infrastructure, education, or tax reductions would likely generate a significantly higher broad-based economic benefit for society as a whole.While the horse racing industry argues that public funds support vital agricultural jobs, land preservation, and rural economies, macroeconomists view this debate through the lens of opportunity cost—the lost benefit of not choosing the next best alternative. [1, 2] The economic trade-offs can be analyzed by comparing the impact of horse racing subsidies against these alternative public investments:## Direct Economic MultipliersEconomic "multipliers" calculate how much total economic activity is generated for every dollar spent by the government.| Investment Type | Economic Multiplier & Footprint | Primary Societal Benefit ||---|---|---|| Infrastructure (Roads & Bridges) | High (typically 1.5x to 2.0x). Directly reduces logistics costs for all businesses and improves regional commerce efficiency. | Permanent assets that serve the entire public and boost long-term productivity. || Education (Schools & Pre-K) | Very High (Long-term). Boosts future worker productivity, raises future tax revenues, and lowers public assistance costs. | Upgrades human capital; addresses skilled labor shortages across all industries. || Tax Reductions | Moderate to High. Puts cash back into the private sector, increasing consumer spending or private corporate investment. | Increases general economic liquidity and household purchasing power. || Horse Racing Subsidies | Low (Highly Concentrated). Money primarily inflates purses and breeder incentives. High leakage occurs as prize money often leaves the state. | Supports a niche sector, agricultural suppliers, and specialized equine employment. |------------------------------## The Economic Rationale for Redirecting Funds* * Public vs. Private Goods: Roads, bridges, and public schools are classic public goods that suffer from the "free-rider problem" if left to the private market. Because they benefit everyone but are unprofitable for a single person to build, public dollars spent here fix a market failure. Horse racing, conversely, is a private entertainment and gambling industry. Critics argue that subsidizing a private sport with public cash distorts the market to support an industry with declining natural consumer demand. [3, 4, 5, 6] * The "Leakage" Problem: Independent fiscal studies—such as those evaluating [Pennsylvania's multi-billion dollar slot-tax subsidies](https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_812c5dee-a6ac-11ed-bd87-b7978946c4c5.html)—have noted significant financial leakage. A large portion of subsidized purse money is won by out-of-state owners, trainers, and syndicates who do not reinvest those dollars locally. Conversely, a bridge repaired or a school built represents 100% local physical investment. [3, 7, 8, 9] * Broad-Based Utility: Infrastructure and schools benefit every single industry, commuter, and family within a geographic region. Horse racing subsidies support a highly specific, concentrated micro-economy (e.g., hay/straw farmers, veterinarians, and jockeys). [2, 10] * ## The Counter-Argument from the Racing IndustryProponents of maintaining the status quo argue that the term "subsidy" is a misnomer. In states like New York and Pennsylvania, these funds are legally mandated shares of casino slot-machine revenue designed to compensate racetracks for the loss of gambling market share to casinos. The industry highlights that these funds preserve tens of thousands of agricultural acres from urban development and anchor secondary rural economies that might otherwise collapse. [1, 2, 11, 12] Ultimately, from a strict, macro-level societal standpoint, spending millions on foundational public infrastructure or education creates a much larger, self-sustaining ripple effect through the broader economy than propping up a niche commercial entertainment industry. [3, 8] Are you evaluating these economic impacts for a specific state budget debate (like Pennsylvania or New York), or are you looking for the exact mathematical formulas economists use to calculate infrastructure multipliers? [7, 13] [1] [https://www.countryside-alliance.org](https://www.countryside-alliance.org/resources/politics/the-role-of-the-racing-and-breeding-industry-in-rural-communities)[2] [https://pennhorseracing.com](https://pennhorseracing.com/pennsylvania-economic-impact/pennsylvania-economic-benefits/)[3] [https://www.kidsoverhorseracing.org](https://www.kidsoverhorseracing.org/uploads/1/2/6/1/126191702/final_for_immediate_release_rhdf_5-26-2020final.pdf)[4] [https://lizfarmer.substack.com](https://lizfarmer.substack.com/p/when-states-take-over-horseracing)[5] [https://www.nytimes.com](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/opinion/horse-racing-government-subsidies.html)[6] [https://www.chegg.com](https://www.chegg.com/homework-help/questions-and-answers/public-schools-parks-libraries-roads-paid-largely-tax-revenue--goods-create-free-rider-pro-q13484841)[7] [https://www.thecentersquare.com](https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_812c5dee-a6ac-11ed-bd87-b7978946c4c5.html)[8] [https://www.thecentersquare.com](https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_812c5dee-a6ac-11ed-bd87-b7978946c4c5.html)[9] [https://www.tribtoday.com](https://www.tribtoday.com/news/local-news/2015/09/horse-subsidy-draws-debate/)[10] [https://www.theplaidhorse.com](https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/01/13/the-economics-of-horse-racing/)[11] [https://www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/Pennsylvania/comments/1lxdm2q/pa_needs_to_stop_subsidizing_horse_racing_and_put/)[12] [https://www.post-gazette.com](https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2024/01/10/pennsylvania-horse-racing-taxpayer-subsidy/stories/202401100080)[13] https://www.endhorseracingsubsidies.com
