Racing against the odds : This article is one in a three-part series that takes an in-depth look at the harness racing industry in this part of southern Ontario. The series also includes reporting from the Hamilton Spectator’s Kate McCullough , who reported on the ground from stables to tracks, from Campbellville to Elora; and a photo feature from the Record’s Mathew McCarthy , who visited a stable in Rockwood to capture a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the pursuit of harness racing glory.

Betting on Ontario horses fell by $126 million last year to below $1.2 billion as people gambled on other sports and games instead.

“It’s an intensely competitive market,” said Michael Copeland, chief executive at Woodbine Entertainment Group, a firm that owns the province’s two largest

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