If gamblers were gone, there would still be horse racing. It would just be markedly privatized back into a hobby of the wealthy. Associations of wealthy owners would own a few tracks, they would still breed, sell and race (albeit on a much smaller scale). Employed trainers would be those few working for private farms and private racing stables, rather than public. Purses would be funded by entry fees and subscription from patrons.
If slots were still allowed, however, we might still have Mountaineer running year-round.
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"Have the clean racing people run any ads explaining that giving a horse a Starbucks and a chocolate poppyseed muffin for breakfast would likely result in a ten year suspension for the trainer?" - Dr. Andrew Roberts
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