Rhodes College Prof. Steps Away from Horse Racing After HISA Accusations

Rhodes College economics professor and co-founder of Ten Strike Racing, Marshall Gramm, has voluntarily stepped away from horse racing after the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) accused him of improperly accessing confidential veterinary records to gain an unfair advantage in betting. HISA Alleged Gramm Accessed Sensitive Data Last week, the HISA accused Gramm of fraud, alleging that he accessed confidential health information on thousands of racehorses and used the data to gain an advantage when betting on and claiming horses. Gramm has denied the allegations. According to the organization, Gramm “deliberately and methodically” extracted the information over six weeks beginning in early May this year. The authority alleges that he developed an automated system to download records on a large scale, “in a manner designed to mimic authorized activity to avoid detection.” HISA also said Gramm was authorized to access its portal but was not permitted to view records belonging to horses with which he had no legitimate connection. Gramm teaches The Economics of Racetrack Wagering Markets at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. The course uses handicapping to examine concepts such as probability, decision-making, price discovery, economics, and finance. In addition, he also operates the horse-racing ownership syndicate Ten Strike Racing. What Did Gramm Say? Gramm has acknowledged accessing the data and providing past-performance reports for the horses Deterministic and Griffin’s Wharf, but he disputes HISA’s characterization of his actions. In a statement, Gramm said the information was accessible through his authorized account and that he did not initially understand the scope of the data he had obtained. Gramm further explained he used his own credentials to access the system, made no attempt to conceal his identity, and “bypassed no security protocols or other safeguards.” He said that he continues to cooperate with HISA “in good faith” while reserving his right to defend himself. Gramm has also returned winnings from handicapping contests and said he is working to return purse money and horses associated with the period under investigation. The suspension does not constitute an admission that Gramm violated HISA rules, and the agreement leaves open the possibility that he could ultimately be cleared of any wrongdoing. Any time Gramm serves under the provisional suspension would be credited toward any suspension imposed if he is ultimately found to have committed violations. In other news in horse racing, Massachusetts might allow horse racing machines in select tracks after a crucial vote last month.