In the month since Yonkers Raceway made 1-1/16 mile its set overnight racing distance, there has been much chatter, pro and con
. Whenever something is proactively attempted in order to improve our product, discussion and debate is both warranted and healthy. Still, and while admittedly the jury is still out with such a small sampling of data to analyze, preliminary results would indicate that the experiment is showing tremendous promise.
On Saturday evening, there were four winners out of the 12 races on the card who made it to the winner’s circle from the eight-hole. That just may be a record. While this is both noteworthy and possibly unprecedented on a half-mile oval, this follows a frequency of seven and eight-hole horses showing up as part of winning exotic combinations during the month of February. Clearly, the word is out: outside post horses at Yonkers are no longer to be discounted as outsiders at the mutuel windows. This new competitive racing phenomenon has assuredly helped Yonkers once again approach seven-figure handle numbers unseen since the recent closure of NYC's Off Track Betting Corporation.
The SOA of NY’s board of directors proudly encouraged the experiment, and thanks need to go out to both Yonkers' management for speedily implementing the supported change, as well as to the USTA’s Mike Tanner who has helped with the transition to accommodate the new format necessary to reflect the 1-1/16 fractions data for the aid of the wagering public nationwide. Trying different things doesn't always work, so it's encouraging to see our labours bear fruit in the form of increased interest in the sport. After all, isn't that what its all about?
Additionally, the bettors are not the only group that has taken to Yonkers. There have been 100 claims in the 2011 season; a span of less than two months. That’s proof positive that there is a renaissance in interest in our game by the segment of it constituted by the owners and trainers, who in less than two month period have shelled out $3 million in those claims. Activity in this area is unsurpassed anywhere else in the game right now.
(SOA of NY)
Gus Pay attention people. 1.
Gus
Pay attention people. 1. Outside horses are winning or are more often in the Exotic Ticket. 2. Claiming up sparking renewed interest from owners and trainers in the sport. 3. Handle up. Yonkers has a 7 figure handle unseen since the closure of NYC's Off Track Betting Corp. Isn't this the kind of success harness racing is looking for? This is a recipe for success and if it continues maybe more half mile tracks should implement it.
I agree with Joe Riga, it is
I agree with Joe Riga, it is hard enough to handicap a race as is now and then They come along with 1-1/6 at Yonkers. How do You handicap that when the same horse would race a 1 mile at Yonkers? It is the same as the races at Georgian when They have those 1/2,5/8, 1&
1/2 & 2 mile races. They are OK for family day or special events but not for betting. I think to give the outside horses a better chance at 1/2 and 5/8 tracks they should move
the start to the head of the stretch to give them an advantage. Why do We need a race program if We don't have the fractions to figure a race out. Any body that can pick a horse going from 1&1/16 to 1 mile or 7/8's is guessing,not handicapping. With all the cheating, trainers in retention, poor judges at all the tracks,follow the leader until the last quarter,horses not keeping up to the horse in front of them, We have enough problems don't You think???
Imagine, 100 claims so far
Imagine, 100 claims so far in 2011 at Yonkers Raceway. What a wonderful way for new owners to come into the game and get started right away.
Remember those nights just a few years ago when we used to have numerous horses being claimed from every claiming race? All of a sudden that part of the business died.
Someone in management said some fans were complaining about the claiming races so they decided to bring about changes to the claiming rules. One of the most successful business models in Canada died because a few fans did not like it? I wonder if anyone ever asked those fans if they had ever paid a feed bill, a vet bill or a training bill in their lives? Somehow, I believe I know the answer to that question.
Personally I believe harness
Personally I believe harness racing is by far best at a mile distance, and preferably at 1 mile tracks (with 5/8 tracks being my second choice). Yes maybe more horses from the outside are hitting the ticket but I think that has just as much to do with the inside horses no longer leaving as hard (trying to save themselves for the extra 1/16 mile) and thereby getting boxed in a lot more because they no longer pull first or second over as much as they used to. I have been watching the races at Yonkers closely and this in my humble opinion appears to be the case. I have no interest in trying to figure out how a 2:02 1.16 mile at Yonkers compares to a 1:50 mile at the Meadowlands.
And those 2 miles races at Georgian Downs with 17 horses were just ridiculous. I agree that horses from outside don't have much chance at 1/2 mile tracks and that is why I have never liked half mile tracks. However 1 mile tracks are great and 5/8 tracks are great because they force the race to have flow. The 7/8 mile tracks are horrible and I can't figure out why on earth WEG ever decided to go to this type of track. They basically race single file to the first turn where everyone then settles in nicely and doesn't move until the last quarter. If at that point you are sitting worse then fifth spot good luck in trying to win.
Best show is with different
Best show is with different distances. from 1 mile to 2 miles, like the europeens.
Pari-mutuel will be way more with more horses, like two rows when races above 1 mile and 1/4.
Yonkers has by far the
Yonkers has by far the highest quality of horses in the biz, they have the horse power that the big m and weg used to have in there glory days which has long since passed for both tracks. They can lengthen the races all they want but it is still half mile track racing which in my opinion is unbettable and a thing of the past. Very few if any big bettors are interested in half mile tracks. If they would only expand to at least a 5/8ths mile track and reduce takeout to a max of 10% in every pool i would consider playing the races again.
the 'Buggyman' Jimmy Cauchon
the 'Buggyman' Jimmy Cauchon checking in...
I can assure you that this Yonkers distance thing has caught the attention of myself and a couple of the harness diehards up at Champions location Markham-way.
The mile and a 1/16th is exactly what the doctor ordered to open up the Yonkers tote board.
(would Flamboro for one be interested??..could any half-mile track with a passing lane do it?...maybe Northfield for instance, or do the length of homestretch of these 1/2 milers vary, to accomodate the car, etc.))
..and on top of this, and the best part is,,,you build it into the handicapping fun at other tracks too.
For example, I can tell you from personal experience Family Day afternoon (Feb 21) playing the Meadowlands,,,I cashed a $30 winning Dube horse (Q-Rock)..added the lasix for one, but was also 'cutting back in distance' from the 1 1/16th where he had run a game race at Yonkers a week earlier, and 'only' had to deal with a mile distance at the Big M.....
...and there are many other example like it too, going the other way, where a Big M'er that can 'get the mile', falls short, as low odds horses are doing , when asked to stretch it out at Yonkers..
(I'm sure Woodbine, Georgian, KD, Ridsau for instance would have just as much fun working with Flamboro and Grand River, if they went with it...etc.
Its the magic elixir that has long been lacking in the '1/2 mile with passing lane' game!!
Its providing fine payouts, and wins from all positions.....
**And its sure worth telling all the thoroughbred players out there about it,,who keep banging their heads against the wall trying to get value from 12 horse fields at Gulfstream, Fairgrounds etc....and without Canada reg. bodies lowering the U.S.base bets to: 50 cent for tris and 10 cent supers to play the US tracks, THERE IS NO VALUE for Canadian gamblers betting tracks like that.
**
Believe me, this harness thing is the game that pays!!!...and I want to thank all those harness 'showmen' and 'showomen' and the race secretaries for doing such great jobs with the product...the industry, on both sides of the border, please take a bow,,you need to tell everyone about these prices....
((Recent big payouts at 5/8ths is 'getting it', more and more...recent action and payoffs like Pompano ($15,000+ win 4, one winner last wed night,,winning with its carryover policy) and Fraser, with its mandatory 15,000 big offering two Saturdays back on Western drivers competition day...thats getting it......how about Balmoral(15,000+ sun) and Northfield $10,000+ sat) big carryover pick five payouts..
....(speaking of lucky..a couple of us (sun. night) were fortunate enough to take down $1600+ in the Windsor win 4 tonight...$43 provided the coverage, incl.beating the heavy Carlson fave in the first leg...a horse that hung last week, but evidently didn't register with many on this occasion...of course, interesting to note, Eric delivered with two short prices on the back end to finish off the early win 4......good stuff to be sure)
If anyone wants to get excited about the harness game like me, drop me a line at:
[email protected]
I'm exploring ways to get the word out,,,,maybe it's a radio show for starters....
jctoronto