Horse racing has long been known as the "Sport of Kings", primarily because the great races have been contested by owners that are among the wealthiest people in the world. People who spend millions on horse flesh and expect millions in return for their investments. However, at most racetracks the "under cards" are cheaper horses owned and trained by people that are no where near being captains of industry, or kings.
Horse racing is a dying sport! The racetracks care little about the cheap horses or the small horsemen, who dwell just as hard trying to grind out a living in a sport they love but seldom loves them back. Casino gambling seems to be the only pursuit of racetracks these days, in fact, racing appears to be a nuisance. Purses for cheap races continue to decline so that most of the money can be diverted to a chosen few that can compete in the bigger races.
I have owned, trained, and bred thoroughbred racehorses for many years, not to win classic races, but to compete in a sport that is just as much a part of my heritage as the connections that run in the Kentucky Derby. A bale of hay or straw costs no more for a million dollar horse then it does for a five thousand dollar claimer. Yet we, the small horsemen, are sacrificed to insure that the racetracks can put on a great show for the public, whom they hope will soon become customers in their casino.
The racetracks may need the small horsemen some day, especially if casino gambling doesn't realize their dreams of riches. They may find that one day they might need a race filled to complete their "under card", so they can brag about the quality of choices the bettors have, but you will never catch them increasing purses to attract us. Horse racing is still the Sport of Kings" only because it has serfs who are willing to do the heavy lifting, in a sport that apparently has forgotten, or doesn't care, that most of the players are turning into paupers.
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