The speed explosion – Negative effect on new ownership?

The speed explosion in harness racing in 2022 has been unbelievable.

I guess it all began on August 5, 2006, when Holborn Hanover toured the Meadowlands oval in 1:46.4—a time, heretofore, thought unimaginable years—or even months—before.

It took two years and a month before that time was equaled at The Red Mile by Somebeachsomewhere on September 27, 2008.

Fast-forward a few years to Warrawee Needy (2013) and He’s Watching (2014)—both accomplishing that same feat—followed by the epic 1:46 performances of Always B Miki (2016) and Lather Up (2019).

Almost two years to the day After Always B Miki’s grandstand performance, McWicked paced a winning mile in 1:46.2…and that is, pretty much, pushed out of our minds today.

So, in this day and age, one begins to see a trend developing with whisperings of the possibility of a mile in an unheard of 1:45.

We aren’t there quite yet—but it’s only a matter of “time.”

That, of course, brings us up to Bulldog Hanover—now the incomparable Bulldog Hanover—with his 1:46 mile at The Big M, followed by the historic 1:45.4 performance on July 16 at The Big M.

Great, huh?

Of course, it’s great…for Bulldog Hanover and the sport as it gave our sport a breath of fresh air in terms of television coverage, web coverage and newspaper coverage—what’s left of it!

But for those great Standardbreds chasing the Bulldog, some owners needed “chasers” of a different kind drowning in their sorrows after their horses paced in (1):46 or (1):47 and a piece and, not only didn’t win, couldn’t earn a dime!

An example of this is most noticeable in Bulldog Hanover’s practically unbelievable mile in 1:45.4 in the William Haughton Memorial at The Meadowlands.

It’s not the 2-3-4-5 finishers here, but the 6-7-8-9-10-11 finishers, pacing their miles in 1:47.1 to 1:47.4, respectively, and, with all starters earning something—each earning 1% of the $500,000 purse.

And Abuckabett Hanover had to come up with a “thoroughbred” clocking of :24.4 in his final quarter to rally for fourth money.

While Rockyroad Hanover chased the Bulldog home in that event, Tattoo Artist was next with Whichwaytothebeach fifth, after having the “audacity” to press Bulldog around the final bend.

This is only just to pay tribute to the final six—Nicholas Beach, Dragon Said (last quarter :25.1), This IsThe Plan, Catch The Fire, Nandolo N and American Courage and the fact that this particular event paid something to every starter—deservedly so—to cover, at least, some expenses.

And hats off to Woodbine in the Canadian Pacing Derby as Bulldog Hanover took that prestigious event in 1:46.4 with Tattoo Artist right there with him at the wire in 1:47—:26.2.

Six through 10 were paid there, too, to defer expenses.

The Meadowlands and Woodbine put on great shows in those events and they made sure the talent, at least, got expense money.

But many stakes and, of course, overnight events, do not!

When Warrawee Vital took his lifetime mark at Woodbine on July 30 in 1:47.1—his other 1:47.1 win was at the larger one mile oval—East End made it possible by zipping to the opening quarter in :25.3 before yielding a few strides before a :52.4 half…and earned nothing—z-e-r-o!

There are now dozens, perhaps hundreds, of incidents where horses pace in 1:48 or under and can’t even earn their “keep” these says.

And this situation is beginning to affect fillies and mares, as well.

The brilliant Test Of Faith won the Dorothy Haughton Memorial in mid-July at The Meadowlands in a scintillating 1:47 by a widening four-and-a-half lengths. But the rest of the 10 fillies and mares were but two lengths apart at the wire.

Fire Start Hanover was one of them and managed to finish sixth, pacing in 1:48.1—:26.3 and earned $1,750…about the same amount a $4,000 claimer gets when it wins!

Well before the speed explosion, the 2:10 two-year-old list, the 2:05 three-year-old list and, especially, the 2:00 list are very special with many reaching those lists through Lexington time-trials, as popular and interesting as the races in those days.

They are archaic in nature today with the 1:50 mile almost an everyday occurrence and the list 0f the fastest miles ever in the sport beginning with, of course, Bulldog Hanover’s mile in 1:45.4 and stretching “15 lengths” to 1:48.3 with 56 different horses accounting for many, many more miles under that in a list growing almost race day by race day.

Impressive as that is, while these horses have covered their owner’s expenses, Brooklets Banner, with a 1:48.2 mark, has only banked $29,613.

Shake That House, with a mark of 1:48 has earned only $38, 264, probably just above the watermark between profit and loss.

Ruthless Hanover has only $53,765 to go along with a splendid 1:47.4 mark.

And Nicholas Beach, tied for the fourth fastest mile in our sport’s 216-year history, has yet to bank $100,000 in earnings this season.

The “fastest mile” list has 19 of the 56 have yet to break the six-figure plateau.

On the trotting side of the ledger, we’ve even seen the “impossible” 1:50 barrier smashed.

The three this season come mind—Ecurie D DK, Bella Bellini and Rebuff and their 2022 list stretches 52 long from 1:49.1 to 1:51.4.

In fact, Katie’s Lucky Day, tied for fourth on the list with her 1:50 performance, has banked only $31,740 in her nightly raced season.

A total of 17 of these trotters are, too, under the $100,000 list with the most glaring of those entries being Theresnolimit S that, in seven starts, has a mark of 1:51 while banking only $22,007.

That’s a problem.

If 1:48 performers can only show minimal return on investment, where does that leave the 1:50 pacing performers, that, soon, might be left at the gate!

And a 1:52 trotter, well, as my New York buddy Sal says, “Fuhgeddaboutit!”

The costs caring for a claimer or maiden are as high or, in the beginning, higher, as the ones that turn out to be champions and the odds are greatly against a new owner lured into the maddening crowd seeing Bulldog Hanover and Test Of Faith or on the trotting side, Hambletonian winner Cool Papa Bell or the grand mare Atlanta.

So, purses have to get a big boost everywhere where there is racing and that is the challenge facing the industry in getting new owners that want a better return for owning a 1:47 or 1:48 performer.

With an avalanche of competition these days from casinos, the lottery, sports betting and the like, casinos must be made to stick to the deals made which let them build casinos in the first place.

They can be heroes—g.o.a.t.–or they can be the “goat” without the dots.. It’s still a great deal for them to spend $30,000,000 on racing to earn $200,000,000 in their casinos.

While “time” is on the side of the grand breed entitled the standardbred, it is not on the side of the sport of harness racing.

by John Berry, for Harnesslink