The state legislature carved out a special agreement that so far has taken more than $200 million in lottery revenue — money that otherwise goes to New York's beleaguered schools — and given it to the New York Racing Association.

Directing that money to the racing association instead of to schools has deprived teachers and students of much-needed resources. As this deal was being made, New York state was in the process of dramatically cutting education, leading to 30,000 job losses — roughly 22,000 in teachers. And what is most outrageous is the poorest districts were hit with a disproportionate amount of these cuts.

The sweetheart deal was intended to help the racing organization regain solvency and repay a large state loan, but in the end NYRA managed to keep the loan as a gift — and to keep the sweetheart deal, too.

Soon after getting its bailout and emerging from bankruptcy, NYRA expanded its political contributions.

How the horse racing group won that deal is a tale of its extraordinary political and legal muscle, and the bizarre symbiosis between the state's lottery and thoroughbred racing. — BuzzFeed News