Harness: Grateful for Hambletonian Day
We are just a few minutes away from the aptly named "Greatest Day in Harness Racing" as fans of the sport celebrate the Hambletonian and all of the stakes races that come with it on August 8 at The Meadowlands.
Seeing as this is 2020, when seemingly everything is in a helter-skelter state due to COVID-19, it is no surprise that Hambletonian Day will look much different.
There will be no driver autograph session.
There will be no large crowd.
There will be no jam-packed winner’s circle.
There will be no visiting the paddock.
There will be no bouncy house in Paddock Park.
There will be no hat giveaway.
There will be no visitors from Europe.
There will be no live broadcast on TV.
Let me be the first to write that none of that means anything. It is Hambletonian Day!
We should be grateful that our sport is still able to soldier on amid the crisis around us.
We should be grateful for the 16 spectacular races including 14 stakes on Saturday.
We should be grateful that some fans are allowed to attend to witness great horses like Shartin and Manchego.
We should be grateful that The Meadowlands has done what is necessary to provide us with what is sure to be a day of thrills and memories.
We should be grateful for the trainers and caretakers who have worked hard to make sure Saturday's horses perform at their peak for our enjoyment.
We should be grateful for the drivers who put their lives at risk each day when on the track.
We should be grateful that Governors across the U.S. have approved racing to continue when other sports were shuttered.
We should be grateful that post-COVID handle per race in the U.S. is up 36%.
We should be grateful that post-COVID total handle is down less than 5% despite a 38% reduction in total racing days.
We should be grateful for ADWs because without them there would be no racing right now.
We should be grateful that The Meadowlands has made the live feed available on social media for free so people who cannot attend are able to watch.
It is abundantly clear that the world is a different place right now. Entertainment options we once took for granted - movie theaters, casinos, bowling alleys, amusement parks – are closed in many parts of the country. Even the places which are open can't measure up to the pre-COVID experience.
Moments like Hambletonian Day, when you can immerse yourself in something you love for the entire afternoon, are few and far between right now. We need to embrace the day and be grateful that we are healthy and able to enjoy it.