by John Berry

There’s an old proverb going back to the 12th century that states, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” (But, if you hold its head underwater long enough, it will drink or learn to breathe through its eyes.)

That famous saying can be interpreted in many ways, but one of the most popular illustrates the fact that you can unearth an opportunity but can’t force the implantation or usage by those seeing that opportunity for future success.

It’s amazing to realize that mankind, as we know it, stretches somewhere around 75,000 to 100,000 years old with around 1,500 persons — starting from number one and — getting us where we are today.

Of those 1,500 persons, only the last three could fly in an airplane or drive an automobile; only the last three had the use of a telephone or enjoy music on a phonograph record.

Only the last two were protected from polio with a vaccine, or could enjoy a motion picture at the theatre.

Only the last one had cell phones, or computers or copying machines, cable television or the internet and email.

Incredible breakthrough medications, transplants, you name it.

And, now, artificial intelligence.

Almost everything that has been invented and accomplished in our world has come forth during our lifetime, well, maybe a little bit longer than that.

In harness racing, we’ve seen the invention of hobbles, the bicycle wheel sulky, the totalizator system, the starting gate, simulcasting and the true evolution of speed, to name a few.

Imagine — just imagine — if those folks were led to the “fountains of invention” and didn’t drink.

Many suggestions have come forth over the years to bring our industry and sport into the modern era.

Our sport has been modernized as breeders have done it, the proof being the speed evolution; even though some say that there are pros and cons to it in this day and age.

As far as speed is concerned, the charted line would read “1’s” at every point of call.

While we have seen some innovation outside of the racetrack in our industry, such as streamlined record keeping, when comparing our industry to others, we seem to be lengths behind.

Yes, one can now wager at a variety of tracks from a simulcast venue or by telephone or computer from the comfort of home, but that has had a negative effect of live racetrack participation.

While the times are lightning fast in our sport, our industry lags behind, as other sports leaders and commissioners arrive at the fountain and, indeed, drink.

We see very few “BAR-BAR-BAR” one line slot machines these days.

Some have 100 lines. And the rainbows of lights and lure of those $20,000 jackpots (for 60 cents, or 75, or 88, or a buck) are just too appetizing to pass.

The illegal numbers racket has become a legal lottery with some prizes in the hundreds of millions.

Competition is everywhere and, besides a few more exotic wagers in pari-mutuel racing, it’s been a tough go.

In a recent Mane Attraction, a suggestion was brought forth about a time-trial revival with feedback received on both ends of the fence — actually a triangle of opinions from “who cares” to “great idea to prove a horse’s real potential” to, as a “BDHC” member said, “only if I can bet on it.”

The recent Super Bowl proved the point, in fact, many points.

Just a few of the prop bets available on the Super Bowl included the coin toss, the time of the National Anthem and the Star Spangled Banner, the color of the Gatorade splash, who will be shown first pre-game, Hurts or Mahomes, the Kick of Destiny, total songs during half-time show, first touchdown scorer, anytime touchdown scorers, last touchdown scorer, last turnover (fumble, interception), Mahomes passing (TD’s, Int’s, longest completion, total completions), Hurts, (same categories), several props on Barkley, Hunt, Pacheco, Worthy, Kelce and many others, MVP, first penalty, first team TD, longest FG.

You get the idea.

There was $71,000 bet on the coin toss.

There were 724,000 new sports betting accounts opened over the Super Bowl weekend.

At one point during the game there were 14,300 transactions per second being wagered.

As for the Kick of Destiny, 2,000,000 fans bet on it.

The Legal Sports Report estimated the handle on the Super Bowl was $1.5 billion.

Betting on the NFL was estimated at $35,000,000,000, that’s $35 billion.

In Major League Baseball, there are prop bets on hits, home runs, runs, RBIs stolen bases, total bases in a game, next pitch a ball or a strike — there are unlimited props offered — and you can build them yourself.

These are in-play today, and harness racing is sitting in the back row of the grandstand watching it all happen for some other sport, not ours.

Will any driver win eight races on a card this season; what’s the line on Aaron Merriman winning 925½ races this season? Or will Geremy Bobbitt win 65½ races, or Marvin Luna win 399½ races, or Send It In Hanover take a mark of 1:47.2 either in a race or time trial?

Will Rusty Rail go an opening half in under :52.2? Will he lead by Over or Under eight lengths?

Will today’s feature race at The Meadowlands be Over/Under 1:48.2 with lines on the exact time, as well?

Will any driver over the age of 77 win a pari-mutuel race in 2025?

Will Bulldog Hanover’s world record hold up this season?

The possibilities are endless and the idea is to get our sport in the headlines and in front of everyone’s “ns.”

We’d better start leading the right leaders to water and hope they finally drink, before our great sport drowns because we can’t keep up with the “times.”

May The Horse Be With You.