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Saturday, September 3, 2011

What Happened?

A Facebook friend posted this on Facebook and I was watching this video; pay attention in particular to the second race on the tape.  Unfortunately, the quality is not the best, but it is worth looking at anyway.



Back then the racing was exciting.  What happened to our sport where racing single file is now the style?  How did the judges let it happen? Back then people at least got a run for their money.  And we wonder why people find harness racing boring.


In New York, the NYSRWB has formed the Racing Fan Advisory Council to make recommendations and provide input to the commisison.  Four of the five members have been announced.  Only one member, M Kelly Young, has a background in harness racing.   I find this troubling.  Hopefully when the last member is named, that individual will also have a background in harness racing; otherwise harness racing may get the short end of the stick. 

3 comments:

Scott Jeffreys said...

Dear Pacingguy : This is the first time I have seen these particular Roosevelt archives - honestly, some of the racing took my breath away. Nice to see racing where the rail just doesn't open up for the outside leavers to "drop in".

When I first heard the first replay in the sequence, I almost thought I was listening to Max Brewer (a decade before the date on the tape) from Monticello. Jerry Glantz was the announcer who came in after Jack Lee as I recall - just did not remember his voice.

Lastly, before being named to the NYSRWB Racing Fan Advisory Council, a candidate should be FORCED to watch this collection of video replays. If you do not shed a tear remember Roosevelt Raceway, you are not qualified for the position.

Sincerely, Scott

JLB said...

Given that Jerry worked at Monticello before coming to Roosevelt, the Max Brewer influence may have taken hold, and Max was indeed a fine announcer.

That Blog Guy said...

JLB, it was the racing style we were talking about; not the change in announcing. We know they had sacked Jack Lee.