Letter To The Editor: ThoroFan’s Look At Racing In 2036

[Wandering Eyes]

ThoroFan is a national non-profit Thoroughbred Racing Fan Association, Inc (501 (c)(3)) with 18 years of experience representing the interest of Thoroughbred racing fans across the country. We are proud of our monikers, “Giving the Fan a Voice” and “An educated Fan is a Better Fan.”

With the current takeout rates present in parimutuel racing today, the average fan contributes, at minimum, 20-30 percent of the money that sustains the success of the industry (with larger retail handicappers/players contributing much more) yet is not allowed anywhere near that type of representation or a seat at the table with the regulatory bodies of racing.

If racing is to thrive and grow by the year 2036, we see the following as being present in the industry in some form:

 

For the Fans

1. A sport where the on-track experience draws fans to the racetrack, not just to watch on their phones or at home. While younger generations and the affluent gravitate toward premium amenities, racetracks should also create welcoming spaces for the game's veterans: those who value comfort over spectacle and deserve recognition as vital contributors to racing.

2. Industry recognition that fans and handicappers are as important to racing as horsemen, owners, breeders, jockeys, backstretch community, etc. They need to have a seat at the table. A Fan/Handicapper is given a seat on every Racing Commission or Horse Racing Board. This would not just be a “member of the public” spot, but a dedicated seat for an experienced player who understands the fan/handicapper experiences and desires.

3. Greater access for fans to all aspects of the racing industry, from breeding to racing to aftercare opportunities. This will bring more fans into the sport, not only as fans but also as participants in other areas, keeping the industry vibrant for years to come.

4. While some retail horseplayers truly wish that CAWs would be outlawed from racing entirely, ThoroFan recognizes their importance in generating purse revenue. We envision a 2036 where CAWs exist but are fairly regulated, and where a broad range of wagering options gives regular and retail players access to pools free from CAW influence.

5. True transparency of all health care given to these great equine athletes, and complete explanations to the public of what these treatments mean and are designed for.

 

For the Industry

1. A change in the current business model to make it as lucrative to continue racing as it is to rush horses off to the breeding shed. This can be achieved through better racing “series” and better-structured local racing circuits that would provide critical support to the smaller tracks that will not survive the next decade under current economic conditions.

2. Bring back handicap races. Change the condition books based on the horse's current performance level, not age or number of wins. Under the current system, horses can win a maiden and three allowance races before they must either step into stakes or down to the claiming ranks. This was successfully implemented at Sam Houston Park Jan. 17, 2026. This system gives owners a choice, better opportunities for their horses through improved race placement, and another betting opportunity for handicappers.

3. Rule changes put in place to further ensure the health, welfare, and safety of all the athletes of the sport. These changes would ensure the highest levels of integrity in the sport, leading to more trust and wagering done by the public on it.

 

For the Horse

1. A thriving aftercare program for these horses where there is true transparency that the fans can see and access showing exactly where each racehorse goes after their racing days are over.

Ten years is a very short time in the grand scheme of things (especially considering racing's long and storied history), but this upcoming decade may become one of the most important ever in racing's history. If the industry takes a real hard look at what is best not for the individual, but for the whole, then ThoroFan sees a 2036 where we look back on the last 10 years and marvel at how far the sport has come back.

If not, we may be spending 2036 merely looking back and saying, “Hey, remember when this place used to be a racetrack? Man, I miss that.”

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