Frustration, and a new idea
by John Berry
I’m getting tired, very tired.
So are many of my grand journalist compadres, who are as much enamored with our sport as I, and continue to suggest changes and innovations to propel harness racing to, hopefully, many tomorrows.
Sure, we’ll be here tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that; the races are already drawn.
But how soon we forget that we’ve lost dozens of tracks over the last 50 years and, recently, some casinos have weaseled out of their deals with the tracks with the political help of decoupling.
The gaming industry is in a bit of a recession — so they say — and, while they’re still extracting their 60 or 68 or 75 or 88 cents or, of course, more, from those who are still dreaming to strike it rich, the perks seem to be drying up a bit and that may be a cause in itself — like the guy who had a hot dog stand and decided to hold back on the pickles and he lost even more business.
There are two possibilities for harness racing, either it has a future, or it doesn’t!
Yes, I — make that we — the few of us remaining that still care, are getting tired of screaming our words in print and realize our words and suggestions are ignored and/or never heeded in our attempt to insure the future of a grand sport that features our standardbred breed.
We’ve brought up the need for our own TV network, the re-design of saddle pads to solve the whipping situation, making redraws fair, having open draws for drivers, the “fill it or kill it” proposal to make it better for the bettor, a perfect pick event that could offer a top prize in the hundreds of millions of dollars, a special wagering takeout for those coming to the track, prop bets with the end result of locking in odds (no more 2-1 down to 2-5 in the last flash), and, most recently, a novel idea to speed up antagonizing 25-to-27 minute wait times between races with regional programs with races nine-to-10 minutes apart.
We also have brought up the needs for a universal set of rules regarding medication situations, making sure that one-and-all get the same due diligence when it comes to, instead of denying stays for one and granting months and years for others.
Want to know why we’re losing owners?
I’ve spoken to one owner whose trainer appealed a class 4 situation with one nanogram the difference, on a horse he did not own, resulting in the scratch of two horses he does own, in stakes events, after the trainer’s entries were accepted, that had the potential of changing this owner’s life for the better.
It changed it already, in a catastrophic manner.
We are looking to entice ownership and situations like this destroy ownership.
Well, I’ve gotten off the beaten track here, so, pardon me and let me get to, yet one more idea to be thrown in the trash can.
First, a bit of history.
Back in 1951, the Hall of Fame of the Trotter was established where the cradle of harness racing still exists in Goshen, NY.
To this day, it celebrates and preserves the grand history of our sport, which opened in the Good Time Stable.
After all, Goshen’s roots go way, way back to the late 18th century and the Historic Track dates back to 1838, now a National Historic Landmark.
The museum honors the greatest of the great, both living and immortal, as well as the monumental achievements of our breed, again, both living and immortal.
Years later, the Communicators Hall of Fame began honoring those in the field of journalism and promotion in harness racing with the first inductees enshrined in 1983.
That sets the stage for yet another idea, that will go nowhere, but I hope not.
In 1987, the great Delvin Miller established an award, given by Harness Tracks of America, honoring — finally — the caretaker.
It was called the Red Smith Award — not to be confused with the widely known and publicized Red Smith Award from the Associated Press.
It was awarded to the great Charlie Coleman.
Coleman was himself, foaled in Chester, but not the New York Chester where Rysdyk’s Hambletonian passed in 1876.
Coleman was born in Chester, SC, and “Big Charlie,” as he was known, worked with John Simpson, Sr., joining his stable in (ca.) 1935 at age 14. Simpson was 16 at the time.
The first inkling of fame for Big Charlie was in 1942 when Simpson became the youngest driver to be in the silky for a 2:00 mile, accomplished by My Birthday, Coleman the caretaker.
After serving in World War II, he, eventually, returned to Simpson and these two were a daily double for over 40 years.
Two Hambletonian winners, two Jug winners, and five Kentucky Futurity winners.
His accomplishments were so revered that he was inducted as an immortal in 2023.
There was yet another gentleman whose influence on harness racing goes back to the late 1820s, yes, 1820s.
Harmon Fink Showers was a man of Iroquois and African American heritage and, he, ironically, too, has Chester heritage — Chester, NY — as his name and fame are forever intertwined with Rysdyk’s Hambletonian.
In 1856, Rysdyk’s Hambletonian was awarding the owner with a steady stream of income ($5,000 in two years) and he hired Showers as the caretaker, overseeing the 1,609 mares booked to him during this period of 17 seasons, ceasing because of health issues.
Showers gave Hambletonian his constant attention and he returned to stud, which resulted in 110 additional foals.
For 20 years, until Hambletonian’s death in 1876, Showers had the honor of conditioning, training, and riding the great stallion under saddle, as well as handling him in the stud.
He passed away on March, 12, 1898, in Chester, NY.
So, what is my new idea?
As we have our Hall of Fame for horsemen and communicators, I truly believe that our Hall of Fame should establish a Harmon Showers section for caretakers and farriers (blacksmiths).
It all begins with these wonderful beings that care for these foals as they grow and become the grand athletes that they become.
Caretakers and farriers are absolute necessities to develop a racehorse and, further, a champion racehorse.
Delvin Miller always said, “No caretaker, no horse.”
Stanley and Vernon Dancer echoed the same thing.
Just ask Mickey McNichol.
Years ago, I was fortunate enough to meet the great farrier Bill Wick back in 1984.
Born in 1922, Wick began shoeing horses in his late 20s and, during his 19 years on the grand circuit, he shod 19 Hambletonian winners and 18 Little Brown Jug winners.
In an interview with him at his retirement in 1993, he said, “I love them all and treat them as if they were my children but, having said that, I guess my favorite would be Bret Hanover.
“He was the perfect horse in every way!”
Wick passed on years ago, but I think of him and his contributions to our sport.
Caretakers and farriers are, indeed, the foundation for champions and it’s about time that we honor those that have served harness racing and made it so great for over two centuries.
May The Horse Be With You
