tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post7696815029342912313..comments2024-02-27T17:43:37.207-05:00Comments on View From the Racetrack Grandstand: Does Harness Racing Need the Equivalent of Title IX?That Blog Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15487597769210721585noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-88953080779770761392013-05-16T13:52:46.843-04:002013-05-16T13:52:46.843-04:00I may be able to get an opinion from an attorney. ...I may be able to get an opinion from an attorney. If so, I will put the response here.That Blog Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15487597769210721585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-41801505891166438802013-05-16T12:46:29.615-04:002013-05-16T12:46:29.615-04:00Pacingguy:
I'd like to know what an attorney ...Pacingguy:<br /><br />I'd like to know what an attorney with experience in civil rights and discrimination issues thinks of races restricted to women, even if it's just one race a day. Most states don't allow bars to give women free or discounted alcohol unless the same offer is made to men. Doesn't matter if it's one day a month or one hour a month. Other women only events have been successfully challenged. The legal concept is treat everyone the same. Perhaps you could get some opinions from lawyers for another thread, especially those involved in racing. Howard Taylor comes to mind.<br /><br />As to women jockeys outnumbering women harness drivers, the most logical explanation is thoroughbred's reliance on weight. Even though people over the years have grown taller and weigh more, women are still generally smaller and lighter than men, thus making them good candidates. A man with outstanding ability who weighs 140 pounds won't make it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-74506354157116354702013-05-16T10:53:25.977-04:002013-05-16T10:53:25.977-04:00For the record, the Lady Godiva Pace, the 6th race...For the record, the Lady Godiva Pace, the 6th race on Monday handled a total of $59,700. On a typical Monday card, the 6th race handle is between $57,000-$62,000 though on a really good day it could go as high as $70,000. But if you look at typical wagering, the handle on the Lady Godiva was $200 over the median pool.That Blog Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15487597769210721585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-54871627296252409152013-05-16T10:08:41.915-04:002013-05-16T10:08:41.915-04:00How many women do you see wagering on harness raci...How many women do you see wagering on harness racing? My contention is if women can better relate to the sport, they will wager (more) on harness racing. What better way to develop a relation to racing than having someone you can relate to in the sulky. This goes for trying to get women interested, or individuals from other minority groups. You need to be able to identify with the sport to be interested. <br /><br />Do you think women are discriminated when it comes to driving in races? If so, is it correct?<br /><br />I would agree, having a race here and there would not encourage wagering and damper it due to the lack of a record for these drivers. However, if women were given more opportunities to race and develop a proven driving record, I think people would wager at least as much as they do now.<br /><br />That Blog Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15487597769210721585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-54429147907724946172013-05-16T09:49:51.729-04:002013-05-16T09:49:51.729-04:00Your argument that more women would be interested ...Your argument that more women would be interested in wagering on harness racing IF there were more races for women drivers has no basis in fact. What IS factual is that existing gamblers will bet LESS money on races where the skills of the drivers are "lacking", and therefore increase the chances of a "bizarre" result.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-29959863537123250052013-05-16T08:32:48.714-04:002013-05-16T08:32:48.714-04:00I don't believe I am inventing a problem. Is ...I don't believe I am inventing a problem. Is it the number one problem? No. But sports like the NFL and NASCAR took steps to increase interest of women so why not harness racing? That Blog Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15487597769210721585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-1130147734675151182013-05-16T07:59:03.862-04:002013-05-16T07:59:03.862-04:00Maybe the NFL should also mandate that 2 games a y...Maybe the NFL should also mandate that 2 games a year are played by teams consisting only of women. Seriously guys, do you have so much free time on your hands that you find a need to INVENT "problems" and then find ways to fix them?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-57001466272619114052013-05-16T06:09:56.640-04:002013-05-16T06:09:56.640-04:00Some good points raised here. Yes, it would be go...Some good points raised here. Yes, it would be good to get other groups more active in the sport. I will be the first one to say I am not aware of the number of individual minority groups that are having a hard time to break into the sport as driving though out at Cal Expo, it seems Hispanic drivers are readily accepted. I will try to get more information regarding minority participation and write about it in another column.<br /><br />As to the legality of races for women drivers, I am no lawyer but I suspect having one race for women each day would not be a problem as you are not really discriminating against men when you have in reality all the other races being driven solely by men. If you had a day of races restricted to women drivers, then I could see there possibly being a problem.That Blog Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15487597769210721585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-40583594340914165082013-05-16T00:32:42.371-04:002013-05-16T00:32:42.371-04:00Pacingguy: It's doubtful holding races just fo...Pacingguy: It's doubtful holding races just for women drivers is legal. NY and many other states prohibit public places from treating people differently based on gender. I know tracks have held races restricted to women drivers and Monticello, as part of an annual series, restricts other races to drivers of certain ethnic origins. While interesting as a promotional tool, they seem to violate the law. <br /><br />Remember "ladies days" at baseball stadiums and "ladies nights" at bars? Charging women less for baseball tickets and alcohol didn't fly. While I agree racing should look for ways to involve more women as drivers, the sport needs to operate within the law.<br /><br />If more people paid attention to what goes on in racing, attorneys probably would have long ago convinced judges to stop all races that aren't open to all drivers. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-57906077339426567692013-05-15T23:30:56.132-04:002013-05-15T23:30:56.132-04:00Women aren't the only disadvantaged group in h...Women aren't the only disadvantaged group in harness racing. Not a lot of African-American drivers, Hispanic, Asian drivers either. Perhaps a different approach is in order to attract a diverse group of drivers as well as trainers and owners. Especially given we are considered the most grassroots branch of horse racing.Marv S.noreply@blogger.com