Learning a lesson from congress

Polly-Ticks really is terrible.

Kinda reminds me of the gent who said, “If you are FOR something, you are PRO.” If you are against something, you are “CON.”

Forward thinking is called “PROgress!” The opposite of that is CONgress!”

We have, basically, a two-party system here in the U.S. where the infighting is so bad that nothing gets done for the people of our grand nation.

These members of Congress just want to continually investigate the past and argue about useless agendas when the future is looking us right in the eye of financial tragedy.

The rich could care less because THEY ARE RICH!

We really need 100 INDEPENDENT senators and 435 INDEPENDENT representatives representing our voters…not Republican…not Democrat…just folk who want to do the right thing.

Instead of a continual tug-of-war where nothing budges, we need everyone to hold hands and walk forward.

Our harness racing industry should and can learn from our Congress…and take the exact opposite approach for the benefit and future of our grand sport and its participants…owners, trainers, drivers, caretakers, farriers, suppliers…even fans, who, by the way, are keeping us on life support.

My thoughts on this subject all began several years ago when I presented a “rules change” for consideration regarding the necessity of a redraw.

A few horsemen had been affected when they originally drew inside posts and, then, with a redraw, got stuck with an outside post—one horse going from post “1” to post “9” on the redraw.

The proposal was to draw one single pill for the horse involved and in the redraw with all other horses moving out one post position—for example, horse involved in the redraw draws post “4” and the original “4” moves to post “5”…”5” to “6” and so-on. In other words, no horse is “penalized” more than one post position.

It was a sensible solution to an unfortunate, rare occurrence.

I got some very positive feedback from horsemen and even some high up executives in the sport.

Well, it was “poo-pooed” at the annual meetings of the officers and directors for our sport, you know, those that represent the masses…rejected along with other sensible proposals brought up by others during the sessions.

I decided—then and there—that I would never introduce a rule change proposal again.

Over the last few months, Mane Attraction columns have addressed prop bets, the need for more youth to become involved, how breeders need to step up to the plate, the disappearing harness racing newspaper journalists and their coverage of ur sport, the problem of our evaporating history, developing an “after-school” curriculum for high school classes, the 20% plan to sustain and enhance ownership, on-track attendance, how the door can be opened wide for new ownership and, recently, the need for a COMMISSIONER and our own 24-HOUR-A-DAY TELEVISION NETWORK!

After one column a few months ago, I did hear from the Ingraham-Case team.

They said, “Let us know what you need!”

You know what we need? Hundreds—maybe thousands—more of them!!

But, in reality, that is not going to happen…and that’s understandable.

We are in an industry where the fortunate few make it to the top and the rest work so hard to, simply, stay above the waterline so they don’t drown in debt.

Not one single thing has been done to alleviate the pain our industry feels these days.

We need to form a working harness racing CONGRESS to tackle these ideas and issues—and others that arise—consisting of a strong group of forward thinking people NOT AFRAID OF CHANGE that will embrace technology and move us from the 20th century to the 22nd century, yes, the 22nd—not just the 21st.

This great sport simply cannot move forward with district meetings a couple of days a year and an annual meeting lasting less than one week…it just can’t!

Harness racing needs representation in the form of outside professionals and corporations that specialize in achieving in fields that will propel us to, at least, catch up to those that have blown past us in popularity, ownership, spending, attracting the young and dedication to their own cause for achievement.

There has to be a substantial budget to get things done as our industry bubble continues to deflate!

We are “sight-blind” as Hockey, Basketball, Baseball, Soccer, Golf, Curling, Rugby, Cricket, Tennis, Lacrosse, Volleyball and, even, Table Tennis have out-sprinted us in this era of extreme speed in OUR sport.

We are “sight-blind” as lotteries, with their 50% takeout, prop bets and inflation, among other bites, drain the pari-mutuel dollars.

Over the past 10 years, I have made proposals for sweepstakes, gift certificates, charitable organizations, “golf” handicapping contests, coupon books, monthly newsletters, promotions with local businesses, slogans, a speakeasy, a triathlon handicapping contest, art competitions, auctions, lottery races and, even, saddle pads.

NOT A SINGLE ONE WAS ENTERTAINED…NOT A SINGLE ONE GOT TO FIRST BASE…AND, WORST OF ALL, NOT A SINGLE ONE GOT ONE STEP OUT OF THE BATTER’S BOX!

I’m not complaining, no…disappointed? Yes!

Every idea I and others write and every rule change proposal submitted by persons involved in the sport have taken the time to try and make this sport ad industry better.

It all falls on deaf ears.

Every word that I write, hopefully, makes someone or something look great and put our sport in the limelight.

I am hoping that every word that I write spawns new ideas from others with the will to be part of the resurrection of a sport and industry that so many of us really love.

I am tired of hearing the word REJECTED!

by John Berry, for Harnesslink