2026 is just a couple furlongs away and the issue of Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW) is not going away with the flip of the calendar.

The issue needs to be revisited given the extent to which it has grown. Bettor concerns are valid, and the question has always been whether any group- large or small, is given an unfair advantage that is not available to the average horse player.

The growing reliance on computer programs, algorithms, and AI is prevalent in almost every aspect of our lives as the technological evolution is fast and furious.

The issue for policy makers in racing is the same as it is for the financial markets: can everyone have access to the same information upon which to make a decision on an investment or a wager?

Are the large CAW customers doing anything different from the large institutional investors who scour the markets for opportunities and sometimes wait until the closing minutes of the market to make a move?

Is it improper for a racetrack to commit a portion of their takeout revenue to reward large customers for doing business with them? How is this different from discounts for large customers in any other business?

The challenge for horse racing regulators and lawmakers is in the fairness of existing policies regarding stop betting and pool closure as well as total odds transparency.

Do all betters have access to the same information, and can they choose to purchase programs to scour the racing landscape seeking opportunities to make single or multiple bets?

Can they pool their wagers in the same way investors pool investments in a mutual fund? Can they hire someone to manage their wagers in the same way investors pay a management fee to a brokerage house to manage their trading?

But the bigger, better question is the extent to which computers are taking the traditional fun out of wagering on horse races.

Handicapping for the railbirds is/was a talent developed individually through an understanding of statistics: probability, bloodlines, past performance, analysis of competition, and personal experience.

When computers do what humans historically have done, what does this do to the sport?

In a world where robotics seem to be the next frontier, one must ask what’s next, robot jockeys and horses?

Seeking litigation against the racetrack companies for essentially finding new ways to generate revenue is not the answer.

The wagering handle keeps the sport going and the challenge for all of us in 2026 is where do we go from here?

Policymakers, both public and private, need to listen to the concerns of the players and take a new view in order to achieve a balance where fans do not feel cheated or taken advantage of.

What do you think ?