Sam Mellins

One of the biggest scandals in the history of horse racing could have also been a chance to clean up the sport. When Florida-based veterinarian Seth Fishman was convicted of selling illegal drugs meant to make horses run faster, his trial brought to light... See more

5 Takeaways From Our Investigation Into Horse Drugging New York racing regulators have failed to take action against drug buyers for years, even after federal law enforcement gave them clear evidence of illegal activity. Sam Mellins· January 8, 2026 Sign ... See more

On a frigid weeknight last month, the grandstand at the Yonkers Raceway was nearly deserted when Heave Away surged from behind to win the final race of the evening. It was the 153rd victory of the year for the horse’s trainer, Nicholas DeVita. DeVita was ... See more

FBI Wiretaps, Illegal Drugs, and Dead Horses The feds gave New York key evidence on horse racing’s largest doping ring. State regulators have done nothing with it for years. Sam Mellins· January 7, 2026 Sign up for Staying Focused, our newsletter keeping ... See more

New York state will replace the company providing health insurance to hundreds of thousands of home care workers next year. The move comes after a series of New York Focus stories found that the company, called Leading Edge Administrators, routinely under... See more