I'll admit that I don't always agree with SOA of NY President Joe Faraldo but I do respect his passion for the industry.

In a recent release on the German - American Amateur Driving Challenge, Faraldo made some interesting comments about the state of racing in Germany.

"Given recent attendance declines and the fact that only 550 broodmares remain in the country, you'd never think that German racing could survive; but enter the PMU (French Tote). Since its entry and wagering agreement with the German tracks, like the brand new one in Hamburg and the 100 year old track in Gelsinkirchen, the French wagering brings a raceday stipend of 100,000 Euros. That signal export from some of the bigger tracks allows for their survival...."These connections are vastly important to our economics as the US signal is welcomed in Australia and we need desperately to cultivate growth in Europe."

If the US tracks feel expansion into the European market is necessary, I would certainly hope that Canadian tracks aren't far behind. It's been a while since there have been any updates, but I would reckon a project like Canada One has some potential in a market where German racing is raking in 100,000 Euros per day. That's just from France.

With the need for new racing models in Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, here's to hoping that harness racing here in Canada can come together and market a package much like the ones we currently accept from countries like Australia, Sweden, Japan and Great Britain.