Harness: 'Tis the season to think deeply about Harness Racing

While it’s the season to be jolly, we are technically between seasons in the sport and that’s a great time to recognize what has come and what’s to come in a year that may define the sport for generations.

What stands out at this time of year is a noticeable change in the dynamics of a breeding business that appeared stuck in the mud for years. The announcement earlier this week that retired sophomore Greenshoe has already filled his first book of mares for 2020 at Hanover Shoe Farms suggests there is great optimism for the sport’s future. Granted, retiring 3-year-olds tend to attract attention every year, but in Greenshoe’s case it seems as if money is not an object with breeders convinced his foals will command a hefty price in 2022.

The yearling sales indicated that buyers had put a new threshold on the value of our best-bred horses and that clearly is a major motivating factor to get breeders back in the game. One seven-figure yearling can go a long way towards papering over otherwise disappointing results.

In any economic pursuit there are always those who see a bright future and those who are more cautious. Drawing premature conclusions from any event can prove costly, whether breeding mares or betting on horses moving up off a fast mile.

Yet this is a season for us to hold out hope, and with enough money to race for and enough regional programs to support a limited supply of horses, the chances of return on investment have likely never been better.

Looking back on the racing season, I believe 2019 will be remembered as a year that lacked horses with true dominance. There were several horses that teased at greatness but couldn’t quite follow it up when it mattered most.

Anytime an inexpensive yearling goes on to become the richest horse of any year you would have to say it was a “gift” horse. That Chris Ryder found Bettor’s Wish where few others were looking and brought him to an elite level requires a strong belief in what is possible. It also is what every horseman needs to see on occasion in a sport that too often finds a select few with the resources to corner the market.

As a father of two daughters, I look at 2019 as another breakout year for women in our sport. Despite some of the frustration that people have when institutions are put to the curb and replaced by young women, it should not be lost on the older generation that the sport has for too long made little to no effort to cultivate a female audience.

It is all too often crude when men look down on women or go so far as using the phrase “eye candy” to effectively diminish a person’s actual talent. It would be impossible for anyone, male or female, to start a new position with 40 years of experience. Yet is that in itself a reason not to give younger people more opportunity?

Trainer Jo Ann Looney King made a valid point a few weeks ago about the value of hard work and getting up early to tend to her stable. Yet to me it was disappointing that any horseman should have to respond to people throwing stones with no actual knowledge of what goes in to a successful stable. From the outside looking in the betting public has virtually no idea whether the listed trainer works seven days a week from 4:30 a.m. until midnight or not. What matters to those who watch and wager is that when the horses show up for the less than 2:00 of weekly work that they reach the winner’s circle.

Truly I wish we could cultivate a top female driver in this sport. Unlike the training aspect where women are mostly behind the scenes and only get air time when their horses succeed, a competitive female driver in a male-dominated sport could get enormous local, national or international attention.

Perhaps the long-term benefit of affording women with time in front of the camera during racing programs could be the inspiration necessary to see one, two or more female drivers emerge onto the scene. There are some amateurs with natural talent but we could certainly use a whole lot more.

There will be times in 2020 that I will miss Roger Huston’s calls coming from The Meadows. There will be times next year where I will miss Bob Heyden interviewing horsemen in the winner’s circle at The Meadowlands. Yet to anyone that’s lived long enough, you can get more excitement from seeing the next person get a chance. The aforementioned Hall of Famers have received accolades for years and for anyone fortunate enough to love what they do for a living, it’s not always about the money.

At this time of year it’s encouraging to know that there will in fact be a 2020 International Trot at Yonkers Raceway. The race appeared to be a question mark for some time and it’s good to know more than a few people thought its presence is worth the large investment.

Trotting itself has gone through a renaissance of sorts in North America and hopefully in 2020 some of those who have not retired will return to be of the quality expected to win the International. That Manchego as a 5-year-old could be that horse is certainly more than a possibility. Whatever the daughter of Muscle Hill lacked during the early part of her 4-year-old season, she more than made up for it towards the end.

Looking back on 2019 there remains one question that will only be answered in 2020. Was Tall Dark Stranger or Papi Rob Hanover the best 2-year-old pacer this year? The races and incidents within them leave that an open question. Hopefully the gift the sport will receive will come in the way of epic battles on the biggest stages when they meet next year.

It’s not too early to have next year’s wish list in place.