Derick Giwner

The very nature of the word “judge” leaves plenty open for discussion and debate. Whether we are talking about a court verdict, a possible infraction on the racetrack or the final scorecards from a boxing match, the job can often be subjective. When it comes to racing, judges are often put on the hot seat. They must make tough calls and deal with the firing line from the public. Often enough calls can go either way and I’m willing to accept that fact.

The numbers don’t lie. My handicapping statistics at the Meadowlands this year have been putrid. If I was just a bettor instead of a public handicapper, I could simply switch tracks or take a few weeks off to regroup. Since I don’t have that liberty, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at where I may have gone wrong.

My deepest memories of harness racing go back to the early 1990’s. But in some ways 2005 was really the start of my journey in the sport. That was my first full year in charge of Harness Eye. It was my first opportunity to cover major races like the Meadowlands Pace and Hambletonian. Coincidentally, it was also the year which Rocknroll Hanover dominated the harness world.

This week Yonkers Raceway announced the nominated pacers for the Bluechip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy Memorial series’. These six-week long events which culminate in two rich finals on Saturday, April 27 present one of the best earning opportunities for older horses that the game has available.

Once again the industry convened to discuss new ideas and the issues which may hinder the ultimate success of harness racing. And once again we learned some interesting things from panelists and discussions, but anyone who thinks these get-togethers ultimately solve anything are really fooling themselves. At the end of the day, it would probably be a success if even a few representatives came away with a good idea or two to help their racing product.