According to a report in the Toronto Star, moving the poles, finish line, photo finish and altering the press box at Woodbine Racetrack would cost $1.3 million.
"…Woodbine might spend the estimated $1.3 million required to relocate the finish line, set up photo-finish cameras, realign lights and build a new perch for the three blind mice, a.k.a. the judges," Dave Perkins wrote.
Woodbine has been hosting seven-eighths mile races on its Monday cards throughout the month of December. In a Trot Insider exclusive, Jamie Martin, Woodbine Entertainment Group's senior vice president, Racing, said that the shortened races have been carded to gather sufficient data, which will then be analyzed as to whether WEG should go forward with making the costly changes.
Many SC readers voiced their opinions on the seven-eighths racing when Trot Insider contacted a handful of WEG regular drivers for their opinions on the shortened racing.
"The Woodbine track tends to promote single-file racing, with a heavy emphasis on early speed, and gamblers don't particularly like it," Perkins wrote. "Moving the finish line west, which means moving the starting point west the commensurate distance, might make racing generally more attractive to bettors and that, after all, is the name of the game."
To read the article in its entirety, click here.
(With files from the Toronto Star)
The solution is simple as I
The solution is simple as I see it. Since you can't expand it, shrink it back to 5/8ths. Let's face it, harness racing was meant to be on a 5/8ths mile track. Apart from the Meadowlands where the racing is great and which really is the exception to the rule, look at all the other tracks taht are either 7/8ths or a mile. Balmoral-BORING. Cal Expo-Boring. Lexington-Boring. Now look at all the 5/8s or 1/2 mile tracks like Freehold, Vernon Downs, the Meadows, Chester, Geeorgian Downs, Kawartha, not to mention he old Greenwood Raceway. These tracks offer some of the most exciting racing around and there is always flow because the drivers cannot sit and get too comfortable. They need o move or they get nothing. Unlike Woodbine or Mohawk there is often a blanket finish at these tracks. The reason being becasue whether they like it or not drivers need to be on the move or they'll get boxed in. Unlike the big tracks where they all wait until the last quarter to move. Personally I miss the old Greenwood track. It was the perfect size and it was easy to get up close and see the horses. While shrinking Woodbine will not solve the problem of seeing the horses and drivers up close it will go a long way to fixing the flow problem and it should be relativley easy to implement because you need less room not more. They can do the same at Mohawk and I guarantee you the racing will be great. And at Mohawk you can even get up close to the horses and drivers. It's a win win solution all around.
The 7/8 races on Monday were
The 7/8 races on Monday were attrocious.
Most serious bettors like myself want the most competetive race as possible and as much information as possible.
I agree the Woodbine should move the finishing line giving a longer stretch . This will effectively give better horses who are slow halved or boxed in a better chance to win.
For Harness, Woodbine needs to do abetter job of showing serious bettors the horses. They do the best job in the World of showing the thoroughbreds. Their showing of proper post parades has collapsed. We need to see the horses gate from a perfect side view. Not much you can rely on a head shot. Woodbine should be innovative and have a continual picture of the stretch/wire view of horses warming up. They could do this picture in picture on their telecast. I and evry other serious bettor wants tothe see the harness horse while warming up. It doesn't matter to the better whether they are running at Mohawk or Woodbine. Give us a world-slass telecast.
Here in scotland we could
Here in scotland we could build a whole track and stand for that amount of money.
Maybe if the judges would
Maybe if the judges would fine the drivers for slow second quarters, like they do at other tracks, the horses would not be in single file to the top of the stretch, and there would be more action.
In reply to Maybe if the judges would by redwing (not verified)
Fine the drivers for
Fine the drivers for blantantly giving holes in the first quarter. It's ridiculous, gentlemen racing. If a driver wants to leave from an outside post to try and get spotted but there was no hole, then they would have to hustle to the front and make more competitive racing. As it is now, only "outsider" drivers don't find any holes appear for them, regulars almost always have a hole given to them.
Between the miracle holes that appear early, and then the "pull half out" move down the backstretch which jams up the whole outside flow destroys the competitive racing and takes the backfield out of contention.
A half mile track is the
A half mile track is the answer to get fans to the races. Also, drivers would have to think during the race. Mile tracks and agressive non thinking drivers have sent the fans to other types of entertainment.
They should change it back
They should change it back to the way it was because it was better and easier on the horses.
they need to figure out a
they need to figure out a way to get the standardbreds on the main track, then you'll see a proper show, with good flow in the races. The setup now forces fans to watch the monitors to see the races; that or use binoculars.
Why is it that you're right
Why is it that you're right into the first turn at Mohawk and horses come from off the pace but they can't do the same at Woodbine? Is is about the finish line? or something to do with the way the track is configured.
People who draw outside at Mohawk are not always hampered by the bad post even though it seems you are right into the first turn there leaving as well. Any answers?
Unfortunately, they are not
Unfortunately, they are not likely to bail on Woodbine anytime soon. Far to many potential dollars to be had there. Shame really as it has to be THE worst place to watch a race from. I'd rather go to the Markham fair than Woodbine. Now Mohawk would be the place but there isn't the big draw for $ that Toronto has. Guess what it really comes down to is, location, location, location. So we are stuck with Woodbine, that's a fact. Best be trying to do what they can to fix it. If that involves moving the start/finish lines, then so be it.
A mile and 70 yards or 1 1/16th mile races might be the answer to the back-end having no shot these days. That might apply across the board as today's horse is able to carry his speed much longer than when the 1 mile standard was first adopted. Food for thought.
-VHR
Start enforcing the rules,
Start enforcing the rules, and issue fines that will matter.
Slow quarters, needlessly opening up a hole, need;essly allowing horses to pass up the inside!
The reality is..There isnt that much different in the "outter flow" @ Mohawk than there is at Woodbine..The tracks arent the problem, its the driving and lack of enforcement of the rules when it comes to WEG regulars the the tracks configuration.
IN THE TWENTY FOUR 7/8 RACES
IN THE TWENTY FOUR 7/8 RACES SO FAR ......
POST 10 WON 0 RACES
POST 9 WON 0 RACES
POST 8 WON 1 RACE
POST 7 WON 2 RACES
POST 6 WON 2 RACES
THE OTHER 19 RACES WERE WON BY THE HORSES WITH THE INSIDE POST POSITIONS....
IF I WAS AN OWNER AND DID NOT DRAW INSIDE I WOULD SCRATCH MY HORSE ...
I MYSELF AM NOT BETTING ON MONDAYS UNTIL JANUARY...
I STILL FEEL IF THE JUDGES INFORCED THE RULES LIKE NOT GIVING HOLES AND SLOW HALFS ETC. THEN THE RACING WILL BE MORE EXCITING.
I too read Perkin's article
I too read Perkin's article and his last comment of how far away the horses are to the fans is right on the money. Yes indeed we are into Dot racing and not very exciting. I would suggest changing the Woodbine harness meet to co-incide with the start/completion of the Throughbreds thereby allowing the surface change of the Mile track.
In reply to I too read Perkin's article by John Nother--B… (not verified)
It would be the best idea
It would be the best idea but even now there is a bridge over ther track so even though they wont use it until April, if the weather suits them that is, we can't set foot on there track..narrow passage and steep to get to our track..The new paddock was built for them anyway!!! Can't put a bike behind a large horse..Who are we kidding!!!Leave us at MOHAWK !!!
I am an owner who just drew
I am an owner who just drew post 9 for a race on Monday the 15th. Needless to say I am very frustated, we have no shot of being competitive from out there. I usally go to the races when my horse is running and more often than not wager a couple of hundred dollars when I am there. WEG will not be getting my $200 donation this Monday thanks to this experiment, which in my opionion has already proven to be a bust.
Leave the track alone. Fine
Leave the track alone. Fine the drivers for slow quarters, its simple.
Just have the drivers race
Just have the drivers race their horses instead of sitting like pigeons
most of the race. That is what you get at the Big M- Racing !
The 17 million spent on that
The 17 million spent on that over the top paddock ,could have been put to better use.
Mohawk ... mile track ...
Mohawk ... mile track ... there would be nothing better for the (Standardbred) industry in Canada.
Why can they change de
Why can they change de surface of the mile track like they do at the MEADOWLANDS each time the trotters race. They won't have to move anything and the races would be near the public.
Jean B.
In reply to Why can they change de by jean b (not verified)
Need a cost-analysis of
Need a cost-analysis of which is better: resurfacing (and REMOVING the hub rail) or moving the start/finish. A lot of long-time avid gamblers have always advocated that moving the start/finish is all that would be required to change the flow of the racing -- where are these guys now? (And yes, obviously 1m 70yds or 1 1/16 would be ideal but then we're back to the problems of track records and pedigree records).
I personally give WEG a big thumbs-up though for looking at ways to address what is an obvious problem and I know that this possible solution has been put to them many times.
Permanent year-round racing at Mohawk? Unfortunately just not a great idea: "out of sight, out of mind" and within a couple of years you can forget the small piece of the big-city spotlight we DO have.
The real answer is to have
The real answer is to have standardbred racing at Mohawk all year. Horsemen and public would much prefer that idea. If you don't believe me just poll the public and people involved in the business.
In reply to The real answer is to have by Anonymous (not verified)
I agree, not one person I
I agree, not one person I know likes going to Woodbine. Most of the Woodbine/Mohawk caliber horses are stabled on or closer to Mohawk anyway. Having Woodbine racing during the winter meet is crazy anyway......the road conditions are extremely dangerous most nights, especially on that stretch of highway. Do a poll like suggested earlier.
That would be the best money
That would be the best money they spend.