I found Brett Sturman’s column on economic indicators to be both interesting and educational. It made me think about some additional harness racing USA metrics:

• It looks like harness racing horseplayers lost over $300 million in 2024.

• Harness racing owners absorbed about $150 million in operating losses; saw the fair market value of their excising horses decline by about $100 million; and invested about $100 million of new capital in yearlings.

• Had purses kept up with inflation since 2019, they would have been about $50 million higher than the $492 million actually recorded for 2024.

• It sure doesn’t look like we have adequate purse money available in 2024 to support the approximately 15,000 active standardbred racehorses.

• Brett pointed out that high-end yearling sales have gone well to the stakes purses. But we clearly have too many overnight horses for the current business model to support.

Something has to change.

Joseph E Smith / Vero Beach, FL