In his latest Trot Blog entry, Mark Hetherman calls on the standardbred racing industry to do what many have said for years: promote the harness drivers. But unlike many, Hetherman has a rough framework for the idea
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"How do we create this hype around our drivers? I would propose that the top 15 drivers be employed by WEG and paid a salary with some bonuses clauses built in for handle increases," Hetherman wrote. "Let’s say Jody (driver Jody Jamieson) would be signed to a one-year contract for $2,000,000 per year. Other drivers would be paid according to their success just like all other sports. So let’s say that WEG would have a payroll of something like $15,000,000. I know that the history of paying drivers 5% was to ensure they were always trying to win to earn a living and provide the fans the best integrity for their wagering dollar.
"We know that this does not guarantee anything to the wagering public."
To read Hetherman's latest Trot Blog entry in its entirety, click here.