To the Editor,
The New York Times
Re: “Dead Athletes. Empty Stands. Why Are We Still Paying for This?” (Feb. 28, 2025)
Long before the Super Bowl or the World Series, horse racing was America’s first great sporting event. It has brought people and horses together for generations, shaping the cultural and economic fabric of the nation.
But this is not the sport of the past. Horse racing today is defined by progress. Safer and more closely regulated than ever.
Yet, in his recent piece, Dead Athletes. Empty Stands., Noah Shachtman presents a one-dimensional view of an industry that is actively improving. The article suggests horse racing is on life support, ignoring the billions it contributes to local economies, the private investment that sustains it, and the enormous strides made in equine welfare.
The economic engine of horse racing
The idea that racing relies on government handouts is simply false. Unlike many professional sports that depend on taxpayer-funded stadiums and infrastructure, horse racing is largely supported by private investment and generates billions in tax revenue that directly funds public services.
- The U.S. racing industry contributes $36.4 billion in economic impact annually and supports 491,000 jobs, many in rural communities where racing is the backbone of local economies.
- New York alone generates over $200 million annually in tax revenue from racing—money that funds education, infrastructure, and essential public services.
- Resorts World NYC at Aqueduct Racetrack has contributed $4 billion to New York’s public education system since 2011.
- Should a full casino license be awarded this year to RWNYC, New York State would see an immediate $500-million financial windfall from the initial casino license fee alone, and hundreds of millions of additional dollars in new, direct annual revenue.
- Kentucky’s racing and breeding industry contributes $6.5 billion annually, supports over 60,000 jobs, and generates $115 million in state tax revenue for public services.
Racing is seeing record investment, reinforcing its long-term future:
- NYRA is spearheading a $455 million privately financed transformation of Belmont Park—an investment repaid entirely by racing revenues. This modernization project ensures Belmont remains a world-class venue, creating thousands of jobs and strengthening New York racing for decades to come.
- Maryland is investing $400 million in racetracks and training facilities as a strategic reinvestment into state-owned assets. These funds, derived from dedicated gaming revenue ensure the long-term success of the Preakness Stakes and Maryland’s racing industry.
- Racing is booming in Arkansas and Virginia, where legislative support has created a thriving, self-sustaining industry. Handle is climbing, purses are growing, and the sport is expanding.
- Churchill Downs is investing $200 million of its own capital into infrastructure and facility upgrades, ensuring the Kentucky Derby remains a global spectacle and a cornerstone of American sport.
Meanwhile, taxpayer money flows far more freely into other sports:
- The Buffalo Bills received $850 million in public funds for a new stadium.
- The Las Vegas Raiders’ stadium was awarded $750 million in taxpayer money.
The reality? Horse racing is not reliant on handouts and creates jobs, funds schools, and strengthens local economies.
A sport evolving for the better
One of the biggest omissions in Shachtman’s article is how much Thoroughbred racing has changed.
The industry is not ignoring its challenges—it is tackling them head-on, implementing sweeping reforms that have dramatically improved safety and equine welfare.
- Racehorse fatalities have dropped by 27% since July 2022 under HISA, marking the most significant safety improvement in modern racing history. Today, 99.9% of races at HISA-regulated tracks occur without catastrophic injury.
- Every horse undergoes multiple veterinary evaluations before competing, any sign of unsoundness results in immediate withdrawal.
- Cutting-edge technology is revolutionizing injury prevention. PET scans, thermal imaging, and AI-driven motion analysis are being implemented at major racetracks to detect even the slightest physical irregularities.
- Unlike human sports, where injured athletes push through pain, racehorses are immediately withdrawn at the first sign of an issue.
- Racing has the strictest drug-testing program in U.S. sports. Under HISA and HIWU, every horse is subject to out-of-competition testing, a level of oversight beyond what even professional human athletes face.
This level of scrutiny is unmatched in professional sports. The focus isn’t just on treating injuries—it’s on preventing them altogether.
And it’s important to be clear: Thoroughbred racing is not the same as Quarter Horse or Standardbred racing. Thoroughbred racing has its own independent regulatory structure, distinct safety standards and economic model.
The truth about equine welfare
Shachtman’s article taps into broader concerns about equine welfare, and while some criticism of the past was valid, today’s reality tells a different story.
Racehorses receive unmatched veterinary attention and daily care—far beyond what is required in any other sport. Therapeutic treatments, high-quality nutrition, and round-the-clock monitoring are standard. And more horses than ever are transitioning to second careers.
This is an area of continuous progress and one thing is clear: the industry’s commitment to equine welfare has never been stronger.
No one disputes that horse racing has faced challenges. But painting it as an industry in decline—without acknowledging its enormous transformation—is misleading and unfair. If Shachtman wants to examine the sport’s future, let’s have that conversation openly, fairly, and with all the facts on the table.
At Light Up Racing, we believe in data, science, and transparency. We exist to cut through misinformation, ensuring that conversations about horse racing are driven by facts, not fear. The industry has undergone seismic changes in safety, integrity, and horse welfare—changes that should be acknowledged and discussed honestly.
Because horse racing isn’t clinging to the past. It is leading the future of equine welfare, sports integrity, and economic sustainability. The sport is stronger, safer, and more forward-thinking than ever—and that’s a story worth telling.
Regards,
Light Up Racing Board of Directors
Price Bell
Christina Blacker
Dr Jeff Berk
Roderick Wachman
