Lucky Jim Tops the Poll... Again, When is Enough Enough?

The new Hambletonian/Breeders Crown Poll was released today and to no one's surprise, Lucky Jim is ranked number one. Muscle Hill falls from number three to number four. Mister Big, Buck I St Pat still rank ahead of undefeated Not Enough who is number nine. Like last year's refusal to put Somebeachsomewhere ahead of Donato Hanover until they were forced to at the end of the season, the fact that Muscle Hill, Mister Big and Buck I St Pat all are listed above seven for seven Not Enough show this poll is a popularity contest plain and simple.

Sad news comes from Scarborough Downs on the passing of Daylon Trooper who passed away at the age of eleven from a catastrophic stable accident injury the morning after his last victory. For those of you who may be unaware, this millionaire pacer used to race in the open classes in Yonkers and New Jersey in the earlier part of this decade. His last victory came at Scarborough Downs in a $3,000 race for nw1500l5 or $5,000 claimers. Daylon's ownership changed in April of this year. The question I ask is did not one of Dalyon's previous owners ever think that the eleven year old millionaire pacer was entitled to a well deserved retirement instead of being sold and continuing to race in cheap conditioned/claiming races? Make no mistake, the owners followed standard operating procedures; there is no merit system that says a horse is entitled to retire to a comfortable retirement at any time. While it is sad whenever a race horse dies as a result of illness or injury, it is a sad commentary on all of us that no one thought enough of this horse that they praise in death to have let him retire and enjoy the rest of his life.

And that is the biggest shame.

Who Are the Poll Voters?

The Hambletonian/Breeders Crown Poll for this week has been released. No surprise that Lucky Jim continues to lead the standings as the number one harness horse in the country, followed by Southwind Tempo. Muscle Hill moves up to number three (was number four last week).

Yes, a horse that qualified last week moved up in the standings. On an "impressive" record of two for two for this year with earnings of over $127,000 this year, Muscle Hill comes in as number three while Not Enough who is seven for seven this year with earnings of over $552,000 debuts in the poll tied for ninth.

Am I the only one who sees the absurdity in this?

Who are the voters voting in this poll? Are these people who just read headlines or do they have a vested interest in a horse doing well in the poll? Is Not Enough being penalized because she can only have one foal a year where a horse like Muscle Hill can cover a book of 120? If this is a popularity poll, then let's call it the Hambletonian/Breeders Crown Popularity Poll and be done with it. The results of the poll should reflect what has transpired, not what may transpire.

If we wish to be treated as a major sport then we need to have transparency with the poll. I am not saying we need to know how each voter is voting but we have the right to know the qualifications of the voters.

The fans and those in the industry deserve this.