Reporting Lines

Give RUS-Ontario credit for advertising on a low budget as they put out a promotional video showing Norway against Canada in two upcoming RUS (wagering) events.




Of course a more important question is being horses which compete in RUS events will tend to race with a sulky as well, how does one report program lines?   So far, there seems to be two methodologies.

In the United States, the USTA is treating RUS racing as if it was the same as a horse changing gaits (i.e., from trot to pace); it is as if the horse never raced other than at that day's gait.  True, the conditions a horse will race in is determined by their performance at that gait or in the RUS world, racing style.  Of course, the problem is a horse may look like it hadn't raced in six months when it may have raced three days earlier nor is there any indication of class.

In Canada, Standardbred Canada is showing RUS lines interspersed with their regular race lines.  This is more accurate and gives gamblers a more complete picture; just as the DRF will show steeplechase or hunt meet lines along with regular races on the flat.

Were I to have a say, the program pages would show both sulky and RUS starts in the program for each horse.  In addition, depending on the type of race, the record for the past two years would reflect the style of racing in the day's event; a RUS event would show RUS records; a sulky race sulky records.  The lifetime summary would reflect a combination of all starts regardless of style of racing.

Why should the program show both type of lines together?  First of all, it will show a horse has been racing recently instead of looking like it hasn't raced in a while.  The two sets of lines will show the class of horse you are dealing with.  If you were dealing with a maiden event for RUS participants, wouldn't you want to know the horse last raced in A-2 company versus C-2 when using a sulky?  Neither has a record to speak of under saddle so it make sense a higher class horse would have an advantage.  Wouldn't you want to know if the horse raced under saddle in 1:57 versus 2:02?

The bottom line is the horseplayer is entitled to as much information as possible when making their wagers.  As long as the gait is the same, there is no problem with showing races of different styles in the program.