It’s bananas that harness racing isn’t about entertainment first

The Banana Baseball League has been an absolutely astounding commercial success, and their corporate name is Fans First Entertainment.

Their founder and owner said: “We’re not in the baseball business, never have been. We’re in the entertainment business.”

What a vivid contrast with harness racing, where we seem to desperately cling to our hopelessly outdated pari-mutuel, breeders first business model.

It’s clearly time for our industry to adapt or die. And our sport should be about horses, not betting. About entertainment.

Your recentBreaking Stride article by Trey Nosrac, pointed out that an AI analysis showed that due to structural decline, harness racing may largely disappear within the next decade.

It sure would be great if our industry “leaders” showed the same level of innovation and determination as demonstrated by the Savannah Bananas.

Joseph E Smith / Vero Beach, FL