HARNESS RACING CHANNEL
While agonizing during the typically insurmountable time
it took one of those ALPHABETICAL racing channels to actually
show a harness race barely sandwiched between seemingly
endless thoroughbred chatter and redundant commercials,
it became painfully obvious that what’s needed here
is indeed a HARNESS RACING CHANNEL able to provide harness
programming and racing exclusively-rather than deluge of
thoroughbred races and replays that dominate those networks.
One Sunday for example there were Zweigs from Tioga, Brandywine
Battles from Chester, Confederation Cups from Flamboro and
the one network which is actually under the auspices of
the major establishment in the province presented the Cup
final as an afterthought and never delivered Zweigs or Battles
as billed on a schedule sheet.
Given the multitude of feature races currently going off
at all sorts of oddball hours especially at racino tracks,
it seems more critical than ever to have one jurisdiction
to turn to. Moreover, like our thoroughbred cousins we too
have ample product from Europe and Down Under to provide
added color and filler when needed. Significantly, most
harness tracks are now offering live feeds of respectable
quality that readily can be incorporated to an overall signal.
It would seem that the USTA, CTA, HTA along with the European
and Down Under associations could institute some kind of
study as to the overall funding and feasibility of this
project. Certainly some will surmise that monies extracted
from both yearling sellers and buyers for the controversial
classic series could be better spent on something else.
Years ago, this industry actually got together to support
what some thought was an ill advised venture called American
Championship Harness Series (ACHS) on ESPN. Ill advised
perhaps due to some curious thinking about making harness
racing the sport of the MTV generation-whatever that actually
is or was.
It as they say in broadcast terminology bombed and probably
set us back some as far as broadcast credibility is concerned.
However with all racing (harness included) evolving into
more of a living room activity, it may be time to dust off
some cobwebs and institute a little exploratory dialogue
as to how best to electronically present ourselves.
REALLY DESIRABLE
Got a pretty fine assortment of Real Desire’s slated
for the Lexington Select sale including several first timers
from productive mares.
# 87 THOU SHALT NOT (Because I Said So) as physically attractive
a Real Desire to be found anywhere. Being a three quarter
sister to I’ve Got Life 1:50.4 and over $430,000 made
won’t hurt at all. #167 CARNIVORE (Party Animal) is
the first Real Desire brother to double stakes winning CARTNIVEROUS
p,2,1:55.2-07 The dam traces right to Mib Hanover who has
a sub :55 2-year-old again this year. #175 PUMPTUOUS (Pumped)
is the first Real Desire sister to mega winner ARTCOTIC
P,3,1:51f. #203 NITTANY LINEBACKER (Nittany Lion) is the
first foal of a Pacific Fella sister to Sweetheart and Molly
Pitcher winner ValMcTorian p,2,1:53.3- 07.
There’s also # 283 PALACE COWBOY (Sunset Palace)
the Real Desire brother to McArdle Park,2,1:55-07 and #540
REAL APPEALING (Ideal Gal) a Real Desire first foal from
a sister to this year’s exciting Ideal Sunrise p,3,1:53f
. The next dam is the $400,000 plus winner Before Sunrise
MORE CLASSIC WINNERS
Can’t help noticing the abundance of Perretti sold
NEW JERSEY CLASSIC alumni winning as good friend Carl Becker
would say EVERYWHERE these days. EXOTIC DESTINATION (Dream
Vacation-Tahitian Tasha) won the World Trotting Derby filly
division on Saturday. MALTESE ARTIST (Artiscape-Hula Dancer)
added the BECKWITH memorial to his growing list of laurels.
And McAPULCO (Smooth Latin N) beat some much higher priced
colts at Mohawk on Sunday in 1:54. McApulco has a Artiscape
brother BUENOS ARTIST at this year’s New Jersey Classic
well worth looking at.
AC DECLINE
Read reports that Atlantic City revenues are dipping down
which given the competition from nearby Philadelphia is
not surprising. Philadelphia is of course the nearest major
population area to Atlantic City thus slots located there
would figure to impact accordingly.
And as Atlantic City revenues decline so too must the monies
allocated to the State of New Jersey.
Whether or not this will precipitate urgency to install
slot machines at The Meadowlands remains to be seen. Certainly
with its prime location in the most densely populated area
of what is dubbed megalopolis, one would think the likelihood
of bonanza exists.
There will be those that insist that any Northern New Jersey
located casino will be detrimental to those in Atlantic
City, which seems more than likely. However, The AC casinos
are already detrimentally impacted according to published
reports from the out of state competition none of which
does New Jersey coffers much good.
WORTHY FAMERS
While all of this year’s Hall Of Fame nominees are
indeed worthy of inclusion it’s hard to think of anyone
more deserving than good friend Lou Guida. Lou certainly
left his indelible imprint on contemporary harness racing
and as a James Bond theme song so melodically goes, NOBODY
DID IT BETTER.
Congratulations Lou!
Bob Marks
