Equibase charges $10K+/year for racing data that other countries give away free

Equibase, a joint venture of the Jockey Club and Thoroughbred Racing Associations, holds a monopoly on North American racing data — past performances, results, speed figures, and workout data. A comprehensive 'Gold' day pass costs $30/day ($10,000+/year for daily bettors), basic past performances run $400/year, and advanced analytics via STATS Race Lens cost $999/year. By contrast, the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Australia's Racing and Sports provide equivalent data completely free, funding operations through advertising, partnerships, and the increased betting volume that free data generates. This paywall actively suppresses new bettor acquisition in a sport already losing 2-3% of handle annually. A potential bettor comparing horse racing to sports betting — where stats for NFL, NBA, and MLB are universally free — encounters an immediate financial barrier before placing a single wager. The monopoly persists because Equibase was created by the same entities (Jockey Club + track operators) that benefit from its revenue, and no regulatory body has authority to mandate open data access in racing.