Well, the date has been set. On November 28, Hialeah Park, which last raced back in 2001, will have quarter horses running down the stretch of the famed oval for the first day of a forty day race meet (well, technically two twenty day race meets). Ironically, 2001 was the last time quarter horses raced in Florida, at Pompano Park of all places. It is anticipated Hialeah will eventually run thoroughbreds as part of their quarter horse meet, allegedly in anticipation to racing a full thoroughbred meet down the road.
While not a particular fan of either breed, it is certainly nice to see a racetrack return to live racing, especially a historic track like Hialeah. However, let's not kid ourselves, the return of racing to Hialeah has nothing to do with the love of horse racing; it is all about being able to operate a slot parlor. Pending approval of a new Indian gaming compact and assuming the FSBOA's lawsuit is settled before slots are declared unconstitutional, Hialeah will be able to operate a slot parlor after they run their two twenty day race meets. Hialeah is using the quarter horses to get their slots and the horsemen are all too willing to be used; after all it gets them racing dates.
Has harness racing given up on expansion? For sure, there was no harness racing permit available in Florida and getting a quarter horse permit was quicker but wouldn't it have been something if Hialeah opened up with a standardbred meet? After all, a twenty day race meet, while short would have fit in nicely during the summer down time at Pompano. Yes, it would have required some lobbying in the Florida legislature and it may not have been successful, but it would have been worth a try.
What about other states? West Virginia has casinos at their thoroughbred and greyhound tracks with harness racing limited to a short run at the WV State Fair. Yet no one considers trying to get an extended standardbred meet there, even if it means leasing the state fair grounds. You probably couldn't get a full casino there, but maybe you could get a slot parlor (even if you need to close it during the state fair). What about other states that have racinos? It may take a big effort to get a trotting meet in these other states, but if there are people out there looking to use a horse breed to get slots, why not use standardbreds? North Dakota has a three day race meet. Why not work to expand that meet? We need to be out in these and other states to tell possible investors that harness racing wants to be part of the gaming scene and is willing to work them.
I know some of the questions. Doesn't harness racing race too many dates already? Why do we want to race in a new state for a short race meet? Why would we want to be 'used'? Let me tell you why.
While we do race too many dates and our product is diluted, we need to get our sport 'on the ground' in as many states as possible. Sure we have TVG and other ADWs covering harness racing, but as many would admit, harness racing gets the short end with respect to coverage. Why is that? People bet more on the runners than they do on the trotters. Part of that is due to the fact that most of America has never had the opportunity to see a harness race live. How can we expect people to start wagering on a product they never had a chance to experience in person? To these people, harness racing is like jai-lai. They heard about it but don't understand it so they are not about to bet on it.
A one or two month festival of pari-mutuel racing in a state where harness racing does not currently exist could be what we need to introduce harness racing to potential new fans and by having short meets, we may be able to maintain fan interest on an annual basis. Sure they would have a live product to race on for only a month or so but once the race meet ended, these people may start betting on harness racing instead of the runners through ADWs and simulcast locations. Would we be getting used by a track operator to get slots in some states? Sure, but we also get access to a wagering public which we would never have a chance to reach otherwise.
As it is said, a strong offense is a good defense. Maybe it is time for harness racing to go on the offense. Think small and things will continue on a decline. Think big and maybe we can growthe sport. Isn't it worth the risk?
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