CHICAGO, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. residents have gotten more miserable, a University of Chicago poll concludes, with 92 percent reporting problems with illness and affording medical care.

Unemployment, pressure to pay bills and unstable romantic relationships also were sited as issues in the first follow-up of the survey last taken in 1991, when 88 percent of U.S. residents said they had experienced at least one miserable life event.

"Those events are associated with and apparently lead to depression and anxiety as well as physical illnesses, such as heart attacks and increased infections," said study author Tom Smith, who is director of the larger General Social Survey.

"Essentially, since experiencing more negative events makes individuals less well off, then, in the aggregate, having more individuals suffering more negative events means society is less well-off," Smith said.

On the bright side, the 1,340 people interviewed for the survey reported fewer problems with the law, civil lawsuits, infertility and going without a car for a month or longer.

Irish jockey celebrates win prematurely

DUBLIN, Ireland, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A jockey in Ireland has been suspended for mistakenly standing up in the stirrups and celebrating his win 80 yards short of the finish line.

Roger Loughran, 26, was aboard Central House at the Leopardstown racecourse near Dublin Tuesday when he made the gaffe, The Guardian reported.

Loughran had mistaken the end of a running rail for the winning post, and as he eased up on Central House, two other horses galloped past and left him to third place.

The packed grandstand fell silent, and while there were a few catcalls, there was more sympathy than anger for Loughran, who thought he had won his first professional race.

Dessie Hughes, the trainer of Central House refused to criticize Loughran.

"The owners still have their horse, and there are plenty more races for him, and Roger will keep the ride," he said.

However, racing stewards suspended Loughran for 14 racing days for inattention.

Family sues cemetery over lost remains

CHICAGO, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The family of a man buried in a Chicago cemetery in 1981 is suing the cemetery after officials allegedly lost his remains.

George Erhardt's sons have filed a suit against the Bohemian National Cemetery after two years of waiting for answers, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Their mother, Delores, died in 2003 and was supposed to be laid to rest next to her husband in the cemetery's Marble Room.

George's remains aren't there though.

Cemetery official Phil Roux said he will investigate but had no comment on the lawsuit.

Erhardt family attorney Frank Pirruccello said the cemetery hasn't answered any questions about George Erhardt's remains except confirming where his remains are supposed to be.

The suit asks for unspecified damages.

Chicago No. 1 for New Year's Eve

CHICAGO, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Chicago is the No. 1 destination for New Year's Eve revelers followed by Orlando, Fla., and Phoenix, discount travel site Hotwire.com said.

The Windy City's top status for the second straight year came from its consistently low hotel prices and attractive, varied entertainment, said Barbara Messing, Hotwire.com's vice president of customer experience.

"We're also seeing increased interest in cities with more temperate climates, such as Orlando, Phoenix, Atlanta, Miami and San Diego, where you can escape the cold at a four-star hotel for under $100 per night during the holiday weekend," Messing said.

Orlando rose from fifth in 2004 to No. 2 in 2005, Phoenix jumped from 13th to No. 3, San Francisco fell from third to No. 4, Las Vegas jumped from 10th to No. 5 and Atlanta rose from ninth to No. 6.

New York remained at No. 7 while Los Angeles, Miami and San Diego rounded out the top 10 U.S. destinations for New Year's Eve.