More potpourri on which to chew

by John Berry

Our “Stirring the Pot” columns have generated a bit of interest from both sides of the fence in our sport.

If only we could turn their suggestions into reality.

Whether one is an owner of a trotting- or pacing-bred athletic marvel — to me, they are no longer “standardbreds” — your comments and suggestions are most worthy and, hopefully, might just be weaved into our sport’s future.

This week, of course, there were more track records equaled this and, as long as we continue to time races the same way as we did in the 1950s, we may, in time, see dozens of trotters and pacers tied in the record books with many claiming number one on the list.

If one glances at the records list, one will find many, many horses are clumped at one specific record time, something that could have been alleviated beginning 25 years ago.

Wouldn’t somebody like to know which of the three horses is really second on the list in back of Bulldog Hanover (1:45.4) at 1:46 — Allywag Hanover, Always B Miki or Lather Up — instead of being tied for second?

And the logjam gets much worse just a couple of ticks below — like 1:46.4 — were more than a dozen are in a so-called dead heat.

If .001-of-a-second makes a difference in a photo finish, doesn’t it make a difference in the record books, as well?

This might seem trivial to some, but if we want to bring our sport up to snuff, nothing is too trivial — especially time.

One gentleman punter brought to my attention a recent Tuesday program in Kentucky where the purses totaled over $300,000.

He said, “Nice stakes program and worthy of my $10-$20 contributions.

“All the great drivers were there, Tetrick [both of them], McCarthy [both of them, too], Dunn, Zeron, Dave Miller, you know, all the great ones.

“I’ll betcha there wasn’t $40,000 bet on the whole card and, I like to bet win and exactas, and some of the win pools were under $500.”

It’s great that the State of Kentucky props up the industry in the Bluegrass State, but what happens if the state has some other priorities in the future that they deem more important than harness racing, like education and health care improvements and/or retirement benefits?

There has been quite a bit of investment in harness racing there — in yearlings, new farms, real estate improvements, and the outreach to businesses that have benefitted from this equine boom.

Many a folk have spent hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars investing in this boom.

Is there a guarantee of some sort that this is a forever boom, because their handle on Tuesday of, roughly $35,000 would support not even a $2,000 purse for claimers.

Another fan suggested, “What this sport needs is a nationwide lottery-like contest that would have a growing weekly prize if nobody hit in a particular week.”

A recent HRU column suggested a Perfect Pick-8 or Great-8, an eight-race contest available at all locations housing harness racing featuring selecting the winner of seven winners and a trifecta in the eighth race of the contest.

It could be seeded with a $500,000 kick-off and a 10 per cent up to 15 per cent takeout (as opposed to the lottery takeout of up to 50 per cent) and smaller prizes offered for those selecting five, six or seven winners.

Advertising could show the increasing value when no person completes the task with the eighth race trifecta.

One nay-sayer already said “It won’t fly because it’s almost impossible.”

The Mega-Millions Lottery, now that’s next to impossible to hit, draws an estimated 20,000,000 (that’s 20 million) players with estimated ticket sales at $100,000,000 ($100 million) with an estimated jackpot size of $50 million.

When the jackpot grows to, say, $800 million, there are an estimated 320 million players betting $1.6 billion, and that’s on that one single play.

Harness racing’s new innovative wager implores some handicapping skill and a little luck and would have nationwide appeal; after-all, what’s the skill in asking for a quick-pick ticket?

Maybe other betting markets would join the fray.

Next, we’ve touched on this before, saddle pads haven’t changed in a century or more and, today, drivers are getting fined every week with whipping violations.

Stretching saddle pads from current size to over the horse’s rump — with padding on the extended portion — would prevent any whipping violations causing striping, welts, and any other negative implications for the horse.

The expansion would provide sounds only with the whip, and maybe even wake up a horse when it counts.

The saddle pads should be iridescent, too.

It’s a benefit for those on both sides of the fence.

Here’s another one pertaining to charting races.

All charts should have eighth-of-a-mile splits, as opposed to quarter-mile times.

If program size needs to be revised, change the current 8½” x 11” size to 11” x 14” size (they already have paper that size available).

Check the newest uniforms in baseball, football, and other sports, bolder, much bolder.

This might give the tracks another idea of having odd-distance races from five-eighths-of-a-mile to 1½ miles.

Two other notes on the subject.

In the case of a dead heat the chart should read DH — not with the distance in front of the third horse.

It’s a tie. The distance between the two horses that have dead heated and the third horse is irrelevant.

Also, in the case of a disqualification (DQ), the current chart shows TDis or Time Disallowed.

The player deserves all relevant information and an (*) asterisk with an explanation that the time shown was disallowed by disqualification.

In other words, don’t take information from the bettor.

These are tiny strides, I know, but, at least, show the fans that we are working to bring our sport into the now years, instead of staying in the 1950s.

The breeders sure have done it. Now it’s the obligation of the tracks to try and close the gap.

One other final note for this Mane Attraction.

One BDHC (Broken Down Horseplayers Club) member is asking why those on one side of the fence get paid more than the other side — paying the top five finishers, 50 per cent, 25 per cent, 12 per cent, 8 per cent, and 5 per cent.

Note that some horses, finishing outside the top five, do get 1 per cent in the richest stakes events.

Another suggestion from an owner says that all starters should get something for their appearance on the track.

Some other suggestions say the purse money should go only as far as the betting availabilities for the fans with the first two finishers getting the bigger rewards with those south of fifth getting nothing.

Here’s a possible solution to satisfy all sides.

For 10 horse fields: 53 per cent, 27 per cent, 9 per cent, 5 per cent, 1 per cent, 1 per cent, 1 per cent, 1 per cent, 1 per cent, and 1 per cent.

For nine horse fields: 54 per cent, 27 per cent, 9 per cent, 5 per cent, 1 per cent, 1 per cent, 1 per cent, 1 per cent, and 1 per cent.

For eight horse fields: 56 per cent, 27 per cent, 9 per cent, 4 per cent, 1 per cent, 1 per cent, 1 per cent, and 1 per cent.

For seven horse fields (when necessary): 57 per cent, 27 per cent, 9 per cent, 4 per cent, 1 per cent, 1 per cent, and 1 per cent.

For six or fewer starters, well, that falls into the “fill it or kill it” category and should not be on any betting card.

As long time BDHC punter Smitty said, “Let’s get the betting programs down to three hours. I’m tired by then.”

May The Horse Be With You!