This old chestnut gets tossed around about every 8 years.
I recall it being brought up in the late 70's about what drivers should be allowed to drive at Harold Park as the punting public didn't know these drivers who came to town once in a while and sometimes didn't perform at the level they were used to. When I first started in the game, I can recall some old timers telling me that there was a time when putting AD Turnbull on your horse ensured that it was 4 points longer in the betting! Can't vouch for the accuracy of that statement, as at that time AD was at the top of his game and all us newcomers looked at him to see how it should be done.
Even now, would Luke McCarthy now be where he is if his grandfather or father hadn't done the hard yards, I think that they would both admit to butchering a few drives as they polished their skills. (The pun is deliberate
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I think that every now and then people forget that standardbreds aren't thoroughbreds and want to emulate the 'Sport of Kings' for what reason I cannot fathom. Trotting has always been the sport of the tradesmen and farmers and families that didn't have the financial clout or desire to hobnob with the Turf crowd. Trotting has always been regarded as the 2nd choice form of horse racing and probably always will be. I think Jack Honan once explained his love of trotting as that it was normal people participating, that in the turf world anyone who had a bit of success wanted to put on a derby hat and a tie and walk around with their nose in the air. I know that I have probably misquoted him, but I think that was the essence of his statement. This will always be the charm of trotting, even the big guns acknowledge the battler, because it will be the battler that will be trying to beat him next time out and on occassions the battler is going to have the better horse or get the better run. I can recall an occassion when Steve Turnbull once jokingly complained about the fact that I was always trying to beat him after I had run about four seconds to his charges with one of our horses. I then complained back that I was tired of him always having one too good for us to beat. And that is how it works, the big guns know the little guns, everyone respects each other, everyone tries their damnedest to win, and that should excite the punters, because if they see a part time trainer/driver engaged in a field and the horse seems half decent, they can punt with confidence that it will be trying its best. True there will be times when the part time driver will get out driven or make a bit of blue that costs them the win, but that is balanced by the fact that when they do get it right, the dividend is usually higher because of that acknowledged form difference.
So if you want to have racing where there are only professional trainers and professional drivers........switch to the thoroughbreds and don't complain when you have spent your fortune and don't have any friends. If you want to enjoy your time with horses and make friends that will be there forever, stay in harness racing and enjoy the success any battler gets, because one day it will be you in the spotlight and they will be quick to enjoy yours. Plus you may still have half your fortune to leave to the kids!