by John Berry

In the past, I have pointed out the foresight of two gentlemen that played a significant role in our grand sport: Harry O. Reno and Joe Neville.

Back more than a century ago, 1923, Reno, a live wire salesman from Chicago, had the foresight to try and create a major stake for 3-year-old trotters, which turned out to be the most prestigious event in our sport, the Hambletonian.

In the late 1930s, Neville, an attorney, received an invitation to be included on the prestigious Grand Circuit calendar on a new fair track in Delaware, OH, and was supposed to send a telegram declining the invite, as the track was just a “yearling” in age with not one single structure on their grounds when their first fair was introduced in 1938.

Neville “plumb forgot” to send that telegram and harness racing’s premier pacing event was on its way to becoming a reality — the Little Brown Jug.

Yes, Harry O. Reno and Joe Neville had the foresight to try and ensure the future of harness racing, enrich it, and bring it to heights unimagined at the time.

Today, we are desperately in search of the next Harry O. Reno or Joe Neville.

Today, it seems just about everyone cares only about today, or, maybe, the next draw for the races three or four days away.

People, we are in the midst of a cancer crises in our sport that has been going on for almost a half century!

We had somewhat of a “chemotherapy” in the form of Stan Bergstein, but there is no denying that our industry is suffering as, one by one, cancer cell by cancer cell is being surgically removed from our harness racing calendars, and we have done nothing to find a cure.

From Washington Park in 1976 (from fire) to Pompano, Freehold and Cal-Expo in recent times, with 40 other tracks surgically removed between, how much longer can we survive?

There are a few — sadly, very few — that see it, but, like it or not, Gordon Banks sees it, Rick Berks sees it, Tim Finley sees it, and maybe a few others.

But all love our sport, our industry and our participants — both human and equine — and care about its future and the safety of all involved.

We’ve put forth many suggestions for implementation and all have fallen on deaf ears concerning everything from safety to improving handle and shoring up participation, probably a couple of dozen, and nothing!

Why, just recently, in an HRU column, it was proposed to honor the memory of Hunter Myers with the Hunter Myers Research and Development Organization, which like the Snell Foundation formed in the late 1950s, would further safety issues to help save grave injury and lives.

One person — Finley — stepped up to the starting gate with a donation.

Finley has gotten a lot of flak in his fight to save the participants in our industry — both human and equine — because he is enamored with this sport.

I’ve never met Mr. Finley in person but he should be admired for his stance — whether you like him or not — for trying.

Nobody else has come forward on this project.

It’s a shame!

Years ago, when HTA had offices at 333 N. Michigan Avenue in Chicago, I was with Stan Bergstein and he professed something very profound to these ears, “We have to realize that harness racing is not an important sport, but it’s our job to make it important with our actions and deeds.

“There is no better vehicle than television!”

Now, with Bergstein gone to the ages, the competition has swarmed around us like a hive of wasps, and the options have become quite a challenge.

I — we — realize we have no voice, but the few that care, are still screaming as loud as we all can!

Banks has been preaching the gospel as one of the saviors of our sport and has done a grand job outlining what we have endured, especially since the casino factor has, first, given our sport a ray of hope, before finding ways to break promises and the backs of many, as competition in many forms has stretched the gambling dollar paper thin.

Yes, there are a few bright spots left, ironically, right in the heart of our land, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, but the blood flow may be weakening in other parts of the country away from the heart.

Berks believes the industry has focus on the wrong agenda.

“We need to focus on molding our sport into importance and begin to concentrate on new fans,” he said. “The [Kentucky] Derby had 150,000 there in Louisville [on a cold, rainy day] from the ordinary fan to ladies with outrageously great hats and men dressed to the ‘T.’ They had celebrities there that made the day even more important. It was a happening.

“I think we have to concentrate on one market at a time and attract well-to-do new patrons and that includes celebrities. We need people with connections to all phases of industry, from the spirits industry to the automobile industry, from FanDuel to Draft Kings.

“We need marketing expertise and we need casinos to contribute. We have to show them, as well as legislators, that there is interest in a great sport and that everyone, including States and casinos, themselves, can benefit from their participation. Breeders have benefitted greatly from the speed explosion in recent years and they should be willing to invest in the future of the sport, as well.

“Above all, we need a strong committee, not just interested in owning a champion, but those that have expertise in many arenas and are willing to devote themselves to a sport that has been very good to them. Aren’t there a few entrepreneurs involved in our sport that will put their individual interests aside for a change and join a committee to insure the safety, success and longevity of a sport that we all love so much?”

It’s apparent that our fan base is shrinking as the aged meet the inevitable with no new blood ready to take their place.

It’s not just the fan base, either, as less than 2 per cent of our drivers and trainers are under the age of 25.

Baseball has minor leagues and, even before that, 7- and 8-year-olds in little leagues.

High schools feature basketball and football, and even bowling!

Junior hockey leagues are abundant everywhere, same for soccer.

The HHYF, which does a wonderful service to the industry, has little assistance in spreading the gospel about harness racing.

Casinos have found a hole in the once strong fabric where decoupling was not even a word, much less a threat.

We have learned — sadly, too late for some — that political dollars can tear fabrics apart, no matter how strong, and decoupling now looms large leaving our industry on pins and needles for the future.

Soon, it will be too late.

I hope not!

MAY THE HORSE BE WITH YOU