This year’s Preakness Stakes were beyond dramatic and emotional. Shortly after four horses died at the Kentucky Derby, another one was euthanized at Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The horse who died was owned by Bob Baffert, a Hall of Fame trainer, who just got back after the suspension. Another one of his horses won the championship.
Dramatic course of events:
Baffert was very emotional while commenting on the win of his horse. Almost in tears, he said: “This business is twists and turns, ups and downs. To win this — losing that horse today really hurt. … It’s been a very emotional day.”
During the race, Havnameltdown, who was only three years old, badly injured his left front leg, which led to euthanasia. He was run by the jockey Luis Saez, who was unseated. He went to the hospital but was conscious, and X-rays were negative.
At the same time, another one of Baffert’s horses, National Treasure, won the championship, being better than the Kentucky Derby champion Mage, who finished third. This put the famous trainer back on track in the Triple Crown trail. The horse’s joker was John Velasquez, who participated in the championship 13 times, but it was his first win.
The winner of this championship didn’t run at Churchill Downs, where the Kentucky Derby was held, because his trainer, Baffert, had been suspended for two years. The suspension took place because of the Derby 2021, where the winner Medina Spirit found positive on the drug test. It disqualified the horse and led to the suspension of the trainer.
This is the eighth victory for Baffert in the Preakness, and 17th in a Triple Crown race, becoming the most awarded trainer currently.
The audience is worried about recent horse racing deaths and requires more work in order to prevent these accidents from happening. The federal Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority will implement new medication and doping rules on Monday, which will help in establishing the safety standards, as well as be a significant step towards establishing the same regulations in this sport across the whole country.
Betting drop:
Meanwhile, the betting on Preakness Stakes dropped 16.4% compared to the previous years. The short field impacted all of the pools since only seven runners participated in the event. Last year, there were nine of them. At the same time, the amount of wagering on other championships increased.
It’s especially concerning that the betting in the exacta pool recorded a decrease of 12.7%, while straight pools dropped 4.7%. The trifecta pool was down 20%, the superfecta pool 36.7%, while super HI-5 dropped 27%.
The total betting was $54.6 million, and in 2022 it was $65.29 million. It’s an even bigger decrease compared to 2021, when the record betting was recorded: $68.69 million.
The legal status of online casinos in India is complex and varies by state. While there is no federal law that explicitly addresses online gambling, the legality depends on state regulations and the type of gambling involved.
Key Points:
-
No National Law: India does not have a specific national law regulating online casinos. However, the Public Gambling Act of 1867 prohibits operating physical casinos and gambling houses, but it doesn't cover online platforms, leaving a legal grey area for online gambling.
-
State-Specific Laws: Some Indian states, like Goa, Sikkim, and Daman, have legalized land-based casinos, and others, such as Sikkim, have also licensed online gambling. Many states have banned gambling altogether, including online gambling.
-
Online Sports Betting: Betting on sports, particularly cricket, is very popular in India. However, it's only explicitly legal in some states like Sikkim and Nagaland, which have laws permitting online gaming and betting.
-
Legal Gray Area: Many international online casinos accept Indian players and operate legally under licenses from offshore jurisdictions (like Curacao or the UK Gambling Commission). As long as players are gambling on licensed platforms, the risk is minimal, but local authorities may still choose to regulate or restrict online gambling.
-
Cryptocurrency: Some Indian players prefer using cryptocurrencies (like Bitcoin) for online gambling, as it provides a layer of anonymity and security.
While online casinos aren't explicitly legal across all of India, many international casinos accept Indian players, and online gambling continues to grow in popularity. Players should ensure they use licensed platforms and understand local laws before engaging in online gaming.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.