According to standardbred owner Clay Horner, the professionalism of drivers is a great thing, but the charismatic attitude of some pilots doesn't hurt the sport, either.
In an article by The Guelph Mercury, Horner states that a prime example of a driver that appeals to the public is 2007 O'Brien Award winner Jody Jamieson. Through Jamieson's success on track and charisma on camera, Horner believes the 32-year-old is a personality that has the ability to attract a crowd outside of the industry hardcore.
"The humility that a lot of people in the industry go on with is wonderfully admirable for people within the industry . . . but the mainstream is not looking for people from unknown sports whose appeal is their humility," Horner told The Guelph Mercury.
Horner cites Jamieson's run with a well-known horse that Horner co-owned, Doonbeg. Horner provided The Guelph Mercury with a prime example of Jamieson's knack for the camera and interviews. Horner said that a racetrack broadcaster asked the driver what he was thinking about in terms of strategy. "(Jamieson) said, 'Look, I'm being brutally honest with you, all I was thinking about was what I was going to say in my interview in the winner's circle,'" Horner said.
"I love that. Jody has the attitude. That's what a winner's attitude is. That's what a star's attitude is and, in particular, to be successful and be appealing to new audiences, you have to have some arrogance about you."
(With files from The Guelph Mercury)
Well the industry better
Well the industry better start exploiting him!By this time next week the yearly amount wagered on Canadian harness tracks for this year will be equal to or lower then last years.
Rob Irving