Thursday Briefs

You have to love the Fieldings for deciding to send Uncle Peter over to Europe to do battle in both the Copenhagen Cup and the Elitlopp, joining Maven (owned by Bill Donovan) who is heading for the Elitlopp only..  Most North American horses don't to well when they cross the pond, but the Fieldings feel the horse deserves a chance to take on Europe's best.  With many being unwilling to risk the wear and tear on their horses, the Fieldings and Bill Donovan should be congratulated for their sportsmanship.


Need to raise funds?  Contact Canadian trainer Jack Darling as his blog article on Standardbred Canada regrarding getting the Meadowlands Pace and the Little Brown Jug on television got the harness racing community to pledge over $100,000.


Starting Friday night, the Meadowlands early and late Pick-4s will have a fifty cent minimum.  The decision to reduce the price was made after numerous surveys and shows how the view of bettors changed.  When the Meadowlands first queried gamblers, they were overwhelmingly opposed to reducing the price.  Now, the bettors are overwhelmingly in favor of the new minimum.  It goes to show you, horseplayers are creatures of habit; at first they oppose any change but once they see the change and get use to it, they are won over.  Also of note, Northfield Park on May 5 will be introducing the twenty cent Super Hi-5.


Remember how exchange wagering was coming to the United States?  In New Jersey it has been legalized as well as in California where Cal Expo was anticipated to be the first track to offer the wager.  Well, we are still waiting with no one willing to discuss now when exchange wagering may debut.  All I can advise is not to hold your breath.


It's Kentucky Derby time and harness racetracks will be going crazy looking to push the Derby at their tracks.  After all, they earn a commission so a successful Derby day program can be a significant contributor to racing's bottom line at the tracks.  While I will be irked by features asking harness personalities for their Derby picks, I realize economic reality requires harness tracks to embrace the Derby.  That being said, wouldn't it be nice if harness tracks would talk up the Meadowlands Pace or the Hambletonian?