Bravo for WEG!

Published: November 24, 2008 02:14 pm EST

I heartily applaud WEG’s decision to try some 7/8-mile events to improve the flow during the middle of the races.

I know that some people will think it’s not needed and it’s a terrible idea because we have this conviction in harness racing that no new idea is a good idea. There are those who feel that horses have been bred to go a mile for more than a century, and why should we change that? (Words from a Canadian friend.)

I’ve always said that if racing were sailing along smoothly and betting and attendance were up 15-20 percent each year, then maybe---just maybe---racing could rest on its laurels. But please let me know when you find a track that has those kinds of numbers today.

I’ve long believed that races fall into a pattern that is both predictable and often boring. You have the same number of horses in each race competing at the same distance over the same track. And often driven by the same corps of catch-drivers. A pattern is inevitable.

You could probably chart some of the races in advance. Two horses will be out at the quarter and the rest at the rail. You may not know who the parked horses will be, but there will likely be a couple. There might be three out at the half as drivers look to catch cover.

You know the drill: same/old, same/old.

By varying the distance, you will likely vary the pattern of the races. Actually, I would like to see some longer races, too, perhaps with more horses in each race. After all, North America is the only place in the world where 99 percent of the races are contested at one mile.

Innovation! That’s the key to survival for racing today. No, I don’t think we should ditch all the old ways, but we certainly should keep an open mind to new ideas and be willing to try new ideas. That’s what WEG has done, and I applaud its action.

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