Left field ideas are my thing. The sport is slowly dying for 2 reasons.
1 - General public think it is dodgy and don't want to punt because of that. The racing needs to be fair.
2 - It hasn't offered anything new to attract the easily distracted young people.
I previously offered the idea of speed skating to make races fairer. It was knocked back very quickly but you shouldn't knock back ideas with proper consideration and understanding.
Get 4 runners on a trial day to give it a go and you might find that it is possible and actually provides fairer racing.
http://pjdata.com.au/idea/
Another idea - Straight line racing - 2.5Km stretch with lanes for every horse. No interference, no sitting behind another horse to get a cart home just fastest horse wins.
On animal welfare the idea of straight line racing could then allow for driverless races and no buggies. Don't laugh. This is already happening oversees - Driven on the sidelines.
I disagree that the general public will be drawn in by by smaller tracks and driver skill. They are betting on the horse and it would be good to know each runner is going to get a fair chance. If punters want to see drivers race, get the drivers to run along the home straight carrying a buggy behind. I actually would bet on that! Pencil that in as idea number 3.