I love Hollywood Heyden and have ever since he was the only public tout/handicapper to pick my Frugal Gourmet to win the Meadowlands Pace at 7-1 over formidable competition that included Jate Lobell, Run The Table and Laag many years ago. But, I vehemently disagree with him when he thinks replays of accident marred races should be left easily accessible to the public. There is no point in time when viewing an accident video isn’t for sensational purpose—-five minutes after, or five years after. It’s macabre.

Those of us IN the industry can succumb to such temptation and not do any harm as a result. Our curiosity, while serving no purpose, will at least involve context. But the general public or PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) types viewing a horse racing accident will serve no possible good purpose and only lead to potential critique of the sport motivated by negativity.

Animals, unable to consent, when subjected to any harm causes terrible angst in most of society. The tracks not showing accident videos obviously have a greater understanding of the precipice our sport stands on than many of those in the business. The business simply can’t afford to offer ammunition to its critics. The danger we face is not all our fault as it is the catastrophic breakdowns of the runners that are “driving the bus.” But anything that makes us look at all similar should be strictly avoided.

Blair Burgess / Milton, ON

Gural: Silence after an accident is deadly

I was watching [last Saturday’s] Mohawk races and after the accident [race caller] Ken [Middleton Jr.] said nothing for the longest time. I had no idea if any of the drivers were seriously injured or any horses had to be put down. Finally, Ken gave us the good news. Oddly enough, at about the same time we had a spill at The Meadowlands and  Ken Warkentin handled it correctly by immediately telling our customers that it appeared that horses and drivers were okay.

I think the worst thing an announcer can do is to say nothing and show a video from the paddock and hope you see drivers that went down walking around. I realize it is a shock since it is a very rare occurrence but please tell us what you are seeing — good or bad.

NASCAR shows videos of their many accidents live so you know what is happening.

Jeff Gural / owner The Meadowlands racetrack

For the bettors’ sake, show the replay

Thanks for another good issue of Harness Racing Update [on Friday]. There were several articles I really enjoyed reading in this issue. However the one that I feel needs comment on is the lead article on the lack of seeing a replay where an accident happens.

I play both harness racing and thoroughbred and have noticed how in both cases the tracks seem reluctant to show the incident on a replay. Most thoroughbred tracks show the replay but edit the replay and cut out the accident. I don’t see as many accidents in harness racing, but they also should show any incidents. As a bettor I like to see what happened especially if it involved a horse I bet on. I know the racing industry is undergoing controversy about horses dying on track. But they owe us the betting public a chance to see why our horse went down. In harness racing, I feel it is even more of an issue since in most cases harness horses survive accidents and even come back to race again shortly after an accident. As mentioned, other sports are not afraid to report on injuries so don’t we deserve the same respect?

John Chambers / Lansdowne, PA

Sturman: Accident video would give ammunition to those wanting to end racing’s state subsidies

I’m in near complete agreement with almost all points Bob Heyden made in Friday’s column regarding the accident in the Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational. He’s right in that the overriding point as to how the public is treated is an insult to everyone’s intelligence.

But, whether most of us like it or not, there is another side to it. The sport wouldn’t exist as we know it today without state funding. The more widely available video is that shows horses crashing to the ground in a chain reaction only serves to give further ammunition to those who can’t wait for more reasons given to them to take away all subsidies. Ideally, yes, full transparency should be provided with this and all other issues. But nobody wants to rock the boat because nobody can afford to.

Brett Sturman / HRU columnist