653. Does Horse Racing Have a Future? episode artwork

EPISODE · Nov 14, 2025 · 1H 1M

653. Does Horse Racing Have a Future?

from Freakonomics Radio · host Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Thoroughbred auction prices keep setting records. But tracks are closing, gambling revenues are falling, and the sport is increasingly reliant on subsidies. Is that the kind of long shot anybody wants? (Part three of a series, “The Horse Is Us.”) SOURCES:Anne Archer Hinkle, owner and director of Hinkle Farms.Cormac Breathnach, senior director of sales operations at Keeneland.Emily Plant, thoroughbred researcher and statistician, associate professor of marketing at the University of Montana.Mark Taylor, president of Taylor Made Farm.Marshall Gramm, horse player, professor of economics at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.Richard Migliore, head racing analyst for Fox Sports and New York Racing Association, retired jockey.Sean Feld, bloodstock agent.Scott Heider, managing principal of Chartwell Capital, thoroughbred investor.Thomas Lambert, economist at the University of Louisville. RESOURCES:Death of a Racehorse: An American Story, by Katie Bo Lillis (2025)."State of the States 2025: The AGA Analysis of the Commercial Casino Industry," (American Gaming Association, 2025)."An Empirical Analysis of Reputation Effects and Network Centrality in a Multi-Agency Context," by Emily Plant (University of Kentucky, 2010).Calculated Bets: Computers, Gambling, and Mathematical Modeling to Win (Outlooks), by Steven Skiena (2001).Bill Oppenheim and Emily Plant's Thoroughbred Market Reports.Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thoroughbred auction prices keep setting records. But tracks are closing, gambling revenues are falling, and the sport is increasingly reliant on subsidies. Is that the kind of long shot anybody wants? (Part three of a series, “The Horse Is Us.”)

NOW PLAYING

653. Does Horse Racing Have a Future?

0:00 1:01:36

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Freakonomics Radio?

This episode is 1 hour and 1 minute long.

When was this Freakonomics Radio episode published?

This episode was published on November 14, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Thoroughbred auction prices keep setting records. But tracks are closing, gambling revenues are falling, and the sport is increasingly reliant on subsidies. Is that the kind of long shot anybody wants? (Part three of a series, “The Horse Is...

Can I download this Freakonomics Radio episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!