by Trey Nosrac

Last week, the first in a series of possible wild pitches for participants in this sport (full story here) led to a minor digital skirmish.

Text received.
July 5, 2021, 3:47 PM
A bit silly this week

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July 5, 2021, 3:49 PM
Thanks, be more specific.

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July 5, 2021, 3:57 PM
Your fake letter phishing for a new person to become involved in harness racing ownership was over the top. Nobody would ever write a letter like that, and nobody would ever reply. It was ridiculous.

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July 5, 2021, 4:02 PM
I have used similar approaches with success.

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July 5, 2021, 3:57 PM
BS

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July 5, 2021, 4:12 PM
The letter in last week’s column was similar in tone to several pitches of mine. One of my rules is never to be afraid of looking like a fool. More unusual approaches to widening the racing base are in the queue.

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July 5, 2021, 4:13 PM
Strange rules.

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July 5, 2021, 4:19 PM
Another of my rules is to aim high and jump fast. Once upon a time, I wrote to an editor I did not know, who worked in a business I had no experience or understanding. My bizarre approach letter used sarcasm to threaten that I did not take rejection well, and my favorite Uncle Vito had Joey “Three Chins” Bonino on speed dial. The letter included several off-the-wall comments and weak puns. I concluded by asking for an outlandish amount of money.

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July 5, 2021, 4:28 PM
You’re lucky he didn’t report you.

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July 5, 2021, 4:28 PM
I was lucky he had a sense of humor and wrote back with a joke of his own and a counteroffer of a single dollar bill. I worked for him until the day he retired. This incident brings to mind another rule of mine. When possible, look for recipients who are open to coloring outside the lines.

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July 5, 2021, 4:32 PM
Did you ever hear the term proper channels?

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July 5, 2021, 4:42 PM
Yes, but I prefer unknown roads. Here is another wild shot that landed. One January morning, nestled beneath a green quilt, I decided that I wanted to make a baseball movie. I had a vague concept for a film in my head, and I did not know a single person in movie production. I could not operate my phone camera, nor did I have a script. I did not have money, and I knew absolutely nothing about the movie industry. I began immediately.

I crawled out of bed and googled – Ohio Film Production. I began scrolling and clicking. Within an hour, I had three names and email addresses. I chose the first name, someone who was an instructor of film at Dennison College. Before the crack of noon, I sent him a quirky email. He wrote back. We set up a lunch, the adventure began. The result was two exciting years of work and learning. And a movie DVD that wound up on library shelves.

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July 5, 2021, 4:46 PM
Finding new players in harness is different.

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July 5, 2021, 4:54 PM
About 20 years ago, I was a VERY casual fan who wagered a few races from the grandstands on an occasional Friday night. I had never set a foot onto the backstretch of a racetrack and did not know a single person involved in this sport. I began to self-educate myself by voraciously reading about the sport. After a few months of research, I took a wild shot in the dark. I called a writer at Hoof Beats magazine and asked him for the name of a potential trainer in my area. He suggested a fledgling trainer who might be a good fit. The result was two decades of adventures and a great friendship.

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July 5, 2021, 4:57 PM
These examples are not typical.

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July 5, 2021, 4:59 PM
Exactly. Phishing for new owners and gamblers is difficult. Is your bait going to be: join us for a serious, wise financial investment? We ain’t that. IMHO, our best lure is: we are an entertaining, fascinating, quirky, unique hobby where you will have fun. Why not give us a look?

A few thoughts before I go:

No one gives you a chance; you have to take a chance – Lil Wayne
Just keep taking chances and having fun – Garth Brooks
Chance favors only those who court her – Charles Nicolle
Eat Every Sandwich – Warren Zevon