Today, I was in a waiting room and having nothing to do, I picked up a copy of a local magazine which is dedicated to the county the Meadowlands is located in. This magazine had numerous pages of photographs from various charity events showing attendees. There were pictures of local television personalities, physicians, businesspersons, sports personalities, celebrities and other prominent people in the community. Well, after going through all the pages I noticed one thing.
Not one person with a known connection to harness racing was in any of the pictures. No track executive, no driver, no trainer or prominent owner. No one.
This is not to say people involved in harness racing don't support local and national charities. Some of these people may prefer to stay out of the limelight and those wishes are to be respected. Yes, many benefit events tend to be in the evening which unless you are racing at Freehold or Monticello makes it hard to attend with any regularity.
We want people to come to the track and support harness racing. We want them to support VLTs where they don't exist. Why should they? What are we doing to become a valued member of the community? Did your track's leading driver(s) and/or trainer(s) take the time to attend an event to support your local hospital or other charity? Did the racetrack and/or horsemen's association make a donation to a local charity and get publicity? Did some of your local driver colony visit children in the hospital? Donate food or help serve meals at a soup kitchen? I know we have people in our industry doing good things for the community, but we need to bring this to the attention of those who live in our communities to show the harness racing community is a valued member of the community. Virtually all corporations contribute to the local community and make it known. Are we?
What are we doing industry wide? Back in the days of Rambling Willie, harness racing had "The Race Against MS". In 1988, we had the March of Dimes Trot. What charities or causes has the harness racing industry gotten behind in the last 21 years?
If you are aware of any efforts by local horsemen groups or racetracks, please post them. Perhaps others will read of them and become motivated.
Will this solve all of harness racing's problems? No. However, a little good will goes a long way.
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