The optimists vs. the pessimists
by John Berry
A recent Mane Attraction brought out the two types of personalities in our world — optimists and pessimists.
We all make choices in our lives, and rightfully so.
I make it a point not to criticize others’ personalities because differences make us who we are, and, if we were all the same, well, it would be a pretty — or not so pretty — dull world.
Our individuality makes this world the fascinating place it is, and gives me yet more ammunition for my Mane Attraction columns.
I was asked about how I see the difference between optimists and pessimists and here’s my view.
I, as an optimist, was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease in 1988, with that diagnosis showing that I have had this genetic disease since my first breath on earth on July 9, 1943.
I was diagnosed after peeing blood and subsequent diagnostic tests explicitly showed the disease which would soon become end-stage with the typical life span being 53-70 years of age for those unfortunate enough to have been born with it.
After several surgeries finding the proper treatment for my situation — and months of doubling over in pain to endure — my final prep surgery set the stage for my treatment.
Yes, I go through dialysis these days, driving to the dialysis center at 4:45 a.m. several days a week for treatment, and it’s tough, no doubt about it.
But I am 82 years of age now and still alive and blessed to write columns for Harness Racing Update and make “talk” about our grand sport and those that make it that way.
Yes, I am an optimist.
The definition of a pessimist can be found in a very wonderful horseman that I had the pleasure of calling a friend for close to a half century.
He, too, ironically, was found to have CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) and wound up with the same fate as I — dialysis — but, instead of maintaining an optimistic attitude about it, he got more and more agitated, losing his patience and getting tired of the nuisance of hours with needles stuck in the arms and attachment of a blood cleansing machine with constant monitoring of one’s vital signs and cramping, dizziness, hypotension, and, of course, lifelong fatigue.
His pessimism led him to a decision to stop his dialysis.
We chatted about it — I tried to talk him out of that decision — but he was just plain tired of the routine and that he would live with his decision to stop dialysis.
He did, too, for two weeks.
I miss him.
This is mentioned because there are so many similarities in just about every stage of everyone’s life.
We have mentioned the “impossible” becoming reality in medical advances, travel, electronics, scientific discoveries and, even, monetary innovations.
Everything that makes up our world today — or just about everything — came in our lifetime.
That is the world of optimism.
Since my last Mane Attraction column, both the optimists and pessimists have voiced their opinions about our grand sport known as harness racing.
Many think it’s too late.
Kev said we “should have fixed the sport before they left or passed on to the great race track in the sky.”
On a positive note, he wished me good health, and that optimism I appreciate very much.
Long time punter and BDHC loyalist Gerard said, “Fixed odds would triple my handle for sure.”
My question back at Gerard would be does that mean your $2 would balloon to $6?
Anthony De 3 said, “There are millions of dollars a day bet. If we can get 10 per cent of that bet on track, it would help immensely.”
Rob G countered that casinos are in over 40 states and, thus, the sport is unfixable.
In my eyes, this sport needs its fiercest supporters — not those that have professed their love for the sport and, then, sold it down the river when the big bucks for land were flashed in front of their eyes.
Look what Peter Kleinhans has done to kick things off.
Kleinhans can play just about “every instrument in the orchestra” when it comes to harness racing — trainer and amateur driver on the track and announcer high above the clay or limestone — and put up $50,000 of his own money, not once but twice, to take the first stride forward to seed a new wager for our sport.
He’s not the first, either.
Several years ago, Tim Finley made an offer to the higher-ups donating his own money to fund a “man on the street” segment project (whether they are familiar or not with harness racing) in an attempt to gain insight on what would propel our sport into future success.
It’s the same concept Damola Adamolekun used to begin to pull Red Lobster out of the doldrums, listening to the public.
Finley got no response, no reply.
We need to have the hoof prints in our sport follow the footprints of those in other sports and industries that have a positive, optimistic vision for our future, something that would benefit both sides.
So, here is my HRU idea to kick this campaign off.
As we all know, casinos put a nail or two in our future as de-coupling was intruded in our sport with legislators going along with those subsequent political dollars.
It’s too late for Florida but, say, in the “heart” of harness racing — Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana — a casino-track “partnership” could benefit both parties.
To begin, using Ohio as an example, the proposal (and, hopefully, subsequent marriage) would take place as casinos in Columbus and Cleveland would host “Track Nights” where each track would welcome track patrons with a $25 free slot voucher for enjoying a night at their host tracks.
The vouchers would be available to patrons beginning one-half hour before first race post and end after the second race is official.
The vouchers would be redeemable after a designated race (9 or 10) in the casino with a 48-minute window for use.
In 2025, the MGM Cleveland Casino gave away almost $30,000,000 in slot promotional free play, so the free play awarded would be considered minimal in getting new and additional participation in their casino.
The Hollywood Columbus Casino had over $50,000,000 in slot promotional revenue, so, again, a “Night at the Track” revival could be an ongoing promotion.
In other words, both parties would benefit!
Hopefully, this could spread to other venues.
One other thing. In the case of Northfield Park, where amateur racing is contested regularly, some of these “Track Nights” would be contested with the amateur events, witnessed by these new fans with an invitation to come into the winner’s circle for the donation ceremony, as well, to emphasize what our amateur clubs do for charitable organizations.
We don’t need many folk to get this underway, only the right one to hop on board and lead the post parade.
Can we find that one?
I am an optimist about that too.
May The Horse Be With You!
