Let's Mix it Up

Well, it looks like the third time may be the charm as the Meadowlands' eighth race is scheduled for the turf. Many of the purists are criticizing the carding of a turf race as being stupid; racing is just not done that way here.

And there lies the problem. Just because we haven't done it before does not make it stupid or wrong; it makes it different. We are basically locked into the one mile race using a starting gate with one tier of horses. Sure every once in a while we will see an odd distance race and an occasional trailer but for all practical purposes we are like Henry Ford was with the Model T. "You can have any color you want as long as it is black".

Leave North America, and harness racing is more like Baskin and Robbins, 32 flavors. Races at varying distances, mobile start (starting gate), manual start (no starting gate), two tiers of horses, handicapping horses by having staggered starts, monte racing (racing under saddle), International Racing (far more than we do). There is variety and variety makes for a more exciting product as well as helps increase pay offs.

Racing under saddle was tried on an exhibition level and for all practical purposes disappeared. It was a half hearted attempt at best. Get some racetracks together and have them commit to setting up a meaningful circuit where there would be guaranteed opportunities to race under saddle and watch trainers seriously begin looking for horses to train to race under saddle. Perhaps race the first year as non-wagering events to expose fans to the concept and then go full blown the next year.

Let's schedule races of various distance and in longer races, add horses in a second tier. Additional horses provides for better wagering opportunities and payoffs. I know owners want to see their horses on the gate but if we are racing a mile and a half does it really matter? No. Have two distance races on a card initially and gradually move up to maybe four or five races a day. Get some distance stake races and maybe we will get an influx of European horses to compete with more regularity adding prestige to some of our races. Why we are at it, why not try the standing start method where horses are handicapped by distance in longer races?

And if a harness meet is held at a track with a turf course, why not give turf racing a try? They race on the turf in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and down under; those familiar with turf racing say it is better for the horses. Who knows, we may be able to introduce harness racing in states that don't currently have harness racing by racing on the turf at non-harness tracks that have a turf course and run mixed breed meets.

No, I am not suggesting we try to make harness racing look like the runners. We will be incorporating the best in harness racing around the world into our product. Will all these ideas work? Probably not; those efforts which work will freshen up the sport and make it more attractive to fans and gamblers alike. All we need are people from all areas of the sport willing to work together and give it a try.

Let's offer our fans something besides vanilla.