Sitting among the audience at Sunday evening’s Jamaica Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Foundation’s (JTHF) Third Anniversary Fundraiser and Award Event, Nancy Holthus, paddock analyst at Oaklawn Park, Arkansas, was hooked on every word, taking in an overarching presentation detailing how horse racing thrives in varying jurisdictions through direct legislative support for purse money.

After the function, which recognised racing personalities who had passed within the last year as well as stalwarts still alive and kicking, Holthus was the first to acknowledge, having first-hand experience of the issues affecting thoroughbred racing anywhere in the United States where casino money does not support purses by way of legislation.

Holthus expressed[JA1] that not only does Oaklawn Park have a casino, which has a direct revenue-sharing agreement that enabled the Hot Springs racetrack to have offered the highest stakes purses for both fillies and colts on the road to Kentucky for the 2025-26 racing season,[JA2] it also has Advance Deposit Wagering (Oaklawn Anywhere), restricted to Arkansas residents, a service that allows users to wager on live horse racing at Oaklawn and tracks across the country using their smartphones, tablets, and computers.