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Can racing withstand the addition of yet another existential threat to the ever-expanding list of practices deemed harmful to our sport's health? Dennis Drazin, the chairman and chief executive officer of Darby Development LLC, which operates Monmouth Park, warned last week that the rising wave of prediction markets should be met with a greater sense of urgency and should be getting more scrutiny from racetrack operators and regulators. “I'm growing more and more concerned about the prediction market companies, such as Kalshi, Polymarket, and others that are now offering bets on sports and, I believe, their intention is to do it on horse racing in the future,” Drazin said during the Nov. 19 New Jersey Racing Commission meeting. Prediction markets are similar to betting exchanges–even though those who operate them tend go to great lengths to get people to believe that users aren't technically “gambling” when they choose a side, stake money, have their proposition matched by an opposing, anonymous user, and then see their accounts either credited or debited based on the outcome of that event. Users trade contracts like they might on a commodities exchange, winning or losing money on the outcomes of games, races, sports league championships, elections and other yes/no types of propositions that they strike directly with other users instead of wagering against the house (like with sportsbooks) or against other bettors (like in a pari-mutuel market). The appeal for prediction market users is lower takeout or vigorish (instead, a small “trading fee” that might be as low as .5 to 2% gets extracted), and, as part of that equation, the prospect of more generous odds and being able to bet against an entity by backing it to lose. But at the same time, under current models, prediction markets aren't operating with explicit permission or broad licensing deals from any United States racing entities, meaning they aren't regulated at the state level (like racing and sports betting) and don't feed back revenue to the Thoroughbred industry to pay for purses. The Betfair exchange has for years accepted trades on American horse racing, and a quick Google search over the weekend for “horse racing prediction markets” turned up a London-based site called Smarkets that was offering buying and selling on every U.S. track running Nov. 22. Both Betfair and Smarkets prohibit U.S.-based users from opening accounts, but both sites (as well as a number of other offshore exchanges) are seeking ways to legally operate in America. “New Jersey has laws on sports betting and on racing,” said Drazin, an attorney who in 2018 successfully represented co-plaintiff New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association in a longshot legal odyssey to get the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, paving the way for legalized sports betting. “And these companies are operating under the [federal] Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). They're not paying any taxes. There's no integrity regulation. And it's invading sports betting revenue that we currently receive.” As CFTC-licensed entities, sites like Kalshi and Polymarket can offer event contracts in all 50 states. Although Kalshi has yet to put up markets for horse racing, Polymarket had a volume of $1.2 million on its market for the 2025 GI Kentucky Derby. “One of these companies had a meeting with me,” Drazin said. “And the first slide they showed me was [the 2026 GI] Haskell [Stakes] coming up. And they want to offer a wager, 'Will the favorite win, yes or no?' And they don't believe they have to pay a host fee. They don't believe they have to compensate the tracks at all. “I believe, to the contrary, that this is controlled by the Interstate Horseracing Act (IHA). And I certainly will be in court if they try and offer a [Haskell] wager,” Drazin said. Earlier this year, the NBA, NFL and MLB (which each have official partnerships with sportsbooks) expressed written concerns to the CFTC about potential integrity issues regarding prediction markets. But not every sports league is intent on fighting the newcomers. On Oct. 22, the NHL announced multi-year licensing deals with Kalshi and Polymarket that will allow the companies to use the league's data and logos, similar to the league's contracts with its partnering sportsbooks. According to ESPN, the American Gaming Association (AGA), a casino trade group, characterized the NHL's actions as “deeply concerning” and described Kalshi and Polymarket as “backdoor gambling schemes masquerading as 'financial products.'” Drazin continued: “Without getting political, I think there are certain individuals, like Donald Trump Jr., that's on salary with Kalshi and an investor in Polymarket. And [President Trump] is making an appointment to the CFTC which will support this agenda… “But most of the action so far has been by the sports betting regulators,” Drazin said. “The New Jersey [Division of Gaming Enforcement] tried to stop them and they were unsuccessful. That's on appeal to the Third Circuit. Nevada tried to stop them. There was an injunction issued, and [on Nov. 16] Nevada's judge, hearing this issue, said he may reverse that injunction… “The California tribes filed an action. The Massachusetts attorney general filed a state court action. Maryland filed an action, [and] although they were successful in getting an injunction, then they made a deal, [that until] the Supreme Court decides it, they're going to let this continue… “The companies are getting very, very aggressive,” Drazin said. “There's been more and more going on as the days unroll. So now FanDuel and DraftKings have entered [the prediction] market. As a result of that, the AGA has asked them to leave, because they won't tolerate someone who's offering these wagers. “Nevada took away [FanDuel's] license. There are some states that are saying, 'If you enter the [prediction] market, you're not suitable to hold a license [for regulated sports betting] in our state,” Drazin said. “Some suggest that you need state laws that prevent [prediction market companies] from operating in your state [and] to give regulators the ability to criminalize it,” Drazin said. “But I'm not going to venture to say what New Jersey should do on that. I'll evaluate the issue. I think our attorney general is front-and-center in handling this. “But on the racing front, no one seems to sense the danger yet, because they say, 'We'll wait until it happens, and then we'll deal with it.'” Drazin said. “I think you have to be proactive with these things. I don't think you can wait until it happens, and then run to court,” Drazin said. “Ultimately, I think this is going to the United States Supreme Court. So it will [likely be decided] three or four years from now,” Drazin said. “But I'm firing a warning to everybody, not only in New Jersey, but in all the other states, that this is an issue that we're going to have to deal with or we're going to lose revenue,” Drazin said. The post The Week in Review: Drazin on Prediction Markets as Threat to Racing: ‘No One Seems to Sense the Danger Yet’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jantar Mantar confirmed his place atop the ranks of Japanese milers with a facile win in the Mile Championship (G1) Nov. 23 at Kyoto Racecourse.View the full article

Watch Me Rock led a Grant and Alana Williams-trained exacta with his victory in the Railway Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse Nov. 22.View the full article

Hi, the person that I was asking for has made contact with him CY last seen with a camera on Winters Cup Day, 2025

Will you certainly care you put up an incorrect equation re Darly's Joy purchase price, working on pounds so that it converted to a higher amount in today's terms. 

Jantar Mantar confirmed his place atop the ranks of Japanese milers with a facile win in the Mile Championship (G1) Nov. 23 at Tokyo Racecourse.View the full article

Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying Rising, Hong Kong's international superstars, posted decisive victories Nov. 23 in their preps for the Dec. 14 Hong Kong International Races.View the full article

Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) maintained a relentless pursuit of racing history and stretched his unbeaten sequence to 15 races with a devastating display of power and speed to land the HK$5.35 million Gr.2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Unvanquished since January 2024, Ka Ying Rising (128lb) obliterated nine rivals in clocking the second-fastest time in history over 1200m at Sha Tin – 1m 07.33s, marginally outside his own track record of 1m 07.20s – despite being eased down over the last 100m by jockey Zac Purton. Conceding five pounds to the rest of the field, the world’s highest-rated sprinter jumped cleanly to lead from barrier 10 before settling in second place behind Beauty Waves and, such was his superiority, Purton said the tempo was still not fast enough – despite a blistering sectional of 21.93s from the 800m to the 400m. Purton quickly put the issue beyond doubt on straightening as Ka Ying Rising surged clear inside the last 200m before being allowed to saunter to the line. The winning margin of two-and-three-quarter lengths flattered runner-up Fast Network with Helios Express third, a further length-and-three-quarters away. Ka Ying Rising’s 15th consecutive win leaves him third overall for the most wins in a row by a Hong Kong trained horse behind Silent Witness (17) and Golden Sixty (16). With the HK$28 million Gr.1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on 14 December seemingly at his mercy, the Shamexpress gelding continues to impress Purton with his maturity, having successfully travelled back to Sha Tin after landing the Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) in Sydney on 18 October. “He just looks better all the time. He’s mentally getting better. It’s hard to say that he’s improving or that he’s going to get better, but he’s certainly enjoying what he’s doing and handling it really well,” Purton said. “It was good to see him win like that today without having to go to the bottom of him, so it’s a nice confidence-boosting win as he comes back. I’ve never seen him look so good. We were hoping he was going to do that, and it’s good for him to back up what we were thinking. “Mid-race, Beauty Waves was probably just half a step too slow – I know we’ve run nearly a track record time – but he (Ka Ying Rising) was on his tippy toes behind him wanting to go quicker. That’s the beauty with this horse, the faster they go, the better he is. “I got to the stage where I had to let him roll into it because otherwise it was going to be detrimental to him.” Trainer David Hayes said: “To the eye, I thought it was probably one of his best wins. That was as easy as I’ve seen him do it – maybe in this race last year, but I thought it was probably better than this one last year when he (Purton) did the kiss cam. “Zac agreed with me. He thought he gave him probably the best feel in the last 15 (races), so that’s a great sign. He just showed us that he’s right on song. He raced at the heaviest Hong Kong weight (1,158lb) he’s ever been today, which suggests he’s getting bigger, stronger, better. “It’s just a dream come true to have a horse like this, and I really want to thank my team that travelled him overseas and didn’t miss a beat with him and brought him back in better condition than he left. “He’ll be set for (2026) The Everest now again and, of course, we’ve got the big international race in three weeks which is his short-term grand final, so it’s all very exciting.” View the full article

The Tomokazu Takano-trained Jantar Mantar cemented his status as Japan's outstanding performer over 1,600 metres with victory in the G1 Mile Championship at Kyoto on Sunday, beating old rival Gaia Force (Kitasan Black) by a length and three-quarters in a near carbon copy of the result from June's G1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo. Becoming just the ninth horse to win both the Yasuda Kinen and Mile Championship in the same year, Jantar Mantar raced in third behind tearaway leader Toshin Macau (Big Arthur) through the first half of the race. Moving up to challenge early in the straight, the son of Palace Malice was in front with 150 metres to run and from there he quickly stamped his authority on the contest, proving himself much the best as Gaia Force ran on from the chasing pack to edge out longshot Water Licht (Drefong) for the runner-up spot. Off Trail (Farhh), Elton Barows (Deep Brillante) and defending champion Soul Rush (Rulership) also finished close up in a closely-fought battle for the minor placings, while British raider Docklands (Massaat), the winner of the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, ran an honourable race, passing the post five lengths behind the winner in ninth. “I'm glad we were able to prove that the colt is a true champion,” said the successful jockey, Yuga Kawada. “Although we lost our recent race, it was a good prep for today and enabled the colt to run in good rhythm with a good feeling. He responded smoothly and, in the home stretch, with the sun setting behind us, I was able to check by the shadows that no one was sneaking up on us. Owing to his outstanding talent and to the hard work of everyone involved, the colt has won all Group 1 mile events open for colts/horses, which I think is absolutely incredible.” Gaia Force and Jantar Mantar were both returning from over four months on the sidelines when the first-named horse enjoyed his day in the sun in last month's G2 Fuji Stakes at Tokyo. Previously, Jantar Mantar had dished out a comprehensive beating of that rival in the Yasuda Kinen and Sunday's victory was the fourth of his career at the top level. Crowned Japan's champion two-year-old colt in 2023 after winning the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, he also won last year's G1 NHK Mile Cup against his own age group.     Pedigree Notes India Mantuana, the dam of Jantar Mantar, produced the best effort of her career when winning the GIII Red Carpet Handicap at Del Mar in 2018. She was led out unsold on a bid of $145,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, before being bought by Shadai for $100,000, pregnant to Accelerate, at Keeneland January in 2020. She unfortunately aborted that foal and was bred to Palace Malice prior to her export to Japan, where she slipped her Kizuna foal in 2022. Her two-year-old by Pyro, Unnatamsa, filled the runner-up spot on her second start at Kyoto last month, while she also has a yearling filly by Isla Bonita. Sunday, Kyoto, Japan MILE CHAMPIONSHIP-G1, ¥347,520,000, Kyoto, 11-23, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:31.30, fm. 1–JANTAR MANTAR (JPN), 128, c, 4, by Palace Malice       1st Dam: India Mantuana (GSW-US, SP-Can, $223,100), by Wilburn       2nd Dam: Speed Wagon, by Tomorrows Cat       3rd Dam: Rajica, by El Baba O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm; T-Tomokazu Takano; J-Yuga Kawada; ¥183,864,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Colt-Jpn, 10-6-2-1, ¥712,498,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Gaia Force (Jpn), 128, h, 6, Kitasan Black (Jpn)–Natale (Jpn), by Kurofune. (¥30,000,000 Wlg '19 JRHJUL). O-KR Japan; B-Oiwake Farm; ¥73,104,000. 3–Water Licht (Jpn), 128, c, 4, Drefong–Water Peony (Jpn), by Victoire Pisa (Jpn). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Masato Yamaoka; B-Fushikida Farm; ¥45,552,000. Margins: 1 3/4, NS, NK. Odds: 0.80, 7.60, 129.20. Also Ran: Off Trail (GB), Elton Barows (Jpn), Soul Rush (Jpn), Ascoli Piceno (Jpn), Magic Sands (Jpn), Docklands (GB), Cervinia (Jpn), Toshin Macau (Jpn), Lebensstil (Jpn), Kangchenjunga (Jpn), Champagne Color (Jpn), Long Run (Jpn), Lavanda (Jpn), Wide Latour (Jpn), Win Marvel (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video. The post Jantar Mantar Much the Best in Mile Championship appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article