Amateur Racing - There is a Limit

Let me preface this by saying I am a supporter of amateur racing. Amateur racing is a great way to introduce new people to the sport as well as encourage horse ownership. After all, how many people can just climb on top of their thoroughbred and work him out and then race him in a race? The ability to be able to train and drive your own horse is one of the advantages harness racing has and every extended parimutuel track should have or be part of a regional amateur driving club. However, there is a limit to supporting amateur racing.

Today, Monticello Raceway had the first of two special Sunday cards. Being a fan of half mile racing, I was looking forward to an afternoon of racing there; that was until I looked at the card. Being aware of how Monticello has always traditionally filled extra race cards will their bottom classes, I realized I would not be seeing the cream of their crop; I could deal with that. However, today, they did something which made me pass on their entire racing program.

Out of the ten races on the card today four of the races were for amateurs. Two races were CKG Billings Series races, two races were Catskill Amateur Driving Series races; 40% of their card was dedicated to amateur drivers. I was already to get in my car and drive the hour and a half to see the races live. After reviewing the card, I decided never mind; I'll stay home and bet Tioga Downs even though they had several two year old Tompkins-Geers races with plenty of horses making their first parimutuel starts.

How can any track card four amateur races as part of their parimutuel card? If you need a race to fill your betting card, put one of these races on the card if you must; two if very desperate to fill the card. See which of these races drew the most accomplished amateur drivers and put it on the card. The other races can be raced as non-wagering events.

For the most part these races are unbettable. Some of the drivers were making their first start of the year or had raced so little this year that you had no idea what kind of driver they are. You look at the program and you have some horses coming from fair tracks where the lines are uncharted. Some of these drivers have been driving for awhile, some are brand new. You had drivers who could not alter the strategy they planned before the race began resulting in horses getting hooked up three wide in a duel at the quarter pole instead of someone deciding to take a tuck.

There are exceptions to this rule. Last year the Meadowlands hosted the championship of the Delvin Miller Amateur Driving Series. Based on their drives during the year, drivers either made their way into the Gold (best), Silver or Bronze Divisions. The Meadowlands carded the Bronze division as a non-wagering event and carded the Gold and Silver divisions on their card. At least bettors were given drivers that had proven themselves or had a record which could be evaluated during the year so they could feel relatively comfortable betting on them

I realize Monticello basically funds their purses through slots, but racetracks have an obligation to put on for their customers (both live and simulcast) the best race cards possible. Nothing is more of a turn off than carding those many amateur races on the wagering card. Fans want to bet but you have to give them something worth their wagering dollars.

Harness racing has enough problems. There is no reason to chase the customers away.