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The day started off normally enough. Retired jockey Casey Chavez, a resident of Ruidoso, New Mexico who brought his tack and his life to the area five years ago, made the commute into work Tuesday morning as usual. Having ridden the last mount of his three-decade long career at nearby Ruidoso Downs nearly a year ago to the date (June 23, 2023), Chavez now works with a local physical therapy office. "I went there like you do any other day and a little before lunch time, we heard about something...

Up until August 9, 2020, Stephen Panus was leading the type of life that many of us envy. He was the president of the Jockey Club's America's Best Racing brand, lived in an affluent community in Connecticut and, most importantly, had a close-knit family that he adored. There was his wife Kellie and sons Jake and Liam, both of whom were special in their unique ways. "Jake was an immense, magnetic personality who lived his life uplifting others," Panus writes in his recently released book "Walk On." It's not that...

On Track, Off Course, a new weekly podcast series from Racing Welfare, features many big names from the racing industry, including Racing Broadcaster of the Year Lydia Hislop. Hislop speaks about the impact the recent death of her mother, Margaret, has had on her personal and professional life. Other speakers include George Baker, Francesca Cumani, and Ralph Beckett. The podcast will cover everything from grief and loneliness to addiction and social media. The first episode is available at www.soundcloud.com/ontrackoffcourse. The podcast can also be accessed on Spotify, Acast or on...