"The problem is most fail to appreciate higher bet costs result in reduced winnings and increased losses to bettors."

Purses, purses, purses. Important? Absolutely. The only part of the racetrack slots equation? Absolutely not. Will Kentucky get it right? Hold your bets.

If you hang around industry conferences, you may think horse racing is on a death watch. A lot of people, however, including prospective fans, don't feel that way. So when is the industry going to get out of its own way?

Of all the racetracks to be cool, Keeneland wasn't high on the list. But 15 years later, look at it now.

Making Thoroughbred racing as safe as it can be is critical. But it's important to realize much is being done already; to make sure the safety accreditation process doesn't start and stop like other industry initiatives in the past; and to accept that, well, stuff happens.

If you're looking for money and prestige, don't forget the Breeders' Cup World Championships. That's what it's there for.

The state is trying to attract a younger demographic to the racetrack.

The racing surface at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Gaming Resort, normally closed for training on Wednesdays, was opened for Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and the other grade II West Virginia Derby entrants, including Canadian invader Awesome Rhythm.

It comes as no surprise that legislators around the country are looking at racing's share of gaming revenue to balance budgets. The latest developments are in Pennsylvania, where breeders and horsemen have issued a call to action to protect the Race Horse Development Fund they say could be raided to support other programs in the state. West Virginia has been through it, and so has Delaware. The list...

As a native of New Jersey, I had the displeasure of witnessing a once-proud horse racing industry deteriorate. The third-biggest circuit in the country in terms of quality and pari-mutuel handle didn't go away overnight; it took about 25 years.

It was a cringe moment, and not the first. During his June 22 presentation before the Kentucky Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee, David Edmunds of the Family Foundation, in an attempt to show how bad gaming is, discussed how casino owner Louis DeNaples lost his license in Pennsylvania.

Bluegrass Warrior was the type of horse you just couldn't help but like. His career average winning distance was 13.65 furlongs.

The horse population problem in Kentucky didn't go away when winter turned to spring.

Tom LaMarra reflects on his recent visit to Atlantic City Race Course.