Fans of harness racing will notice a change of pace on Friday, Nov. 13 at Century Mile outside of Edmonton, Alta.
Following a suggestion from prominent owner Greg Luther of Prolific Equine, officials with Century Mile will introduce The Hat Trick at The Mile, a series of three races at the end of the card with a gap of 11 minutes between races.
"Every major sport has evolved over the years to deliver more action in less time, with the exception of horse racing," Allen Goodsell, Racing Manager at Century Mile, told Trot Insider. "We believe it's time for our sport to evolve as well.
"Today's fans are looking for an engaging experience without having to spend hours and hours at the racetrack," he continued. "Our goal is to make racing more accessible, exciting, and appealing to both longtime fans and a new generation of racing enthusiasts."
If successful, Goodsell noted that the trial could evolve into a structure of racing closer to a traditional hockey game, which he called Speed Racing at The Mile, where races are grouped into blocks of four with a longer break akin to an intermission.
"We recognize that changing the traditional format of horse racing will take time, but we believe there is an opportunity to make the sport more exciting, accessible, and entertaining for today's audience," Goodsell added. "We're excited to introduce this concept and see how fans respond. Our hope is to help move this beautiful sport forward while creating an experience that keeps people engaged and wanting more."
To view the entries for Friday's card of harness racing at Century Mile, click the following link: Friday Entries - Century Mile.
(Standardbred Canada)