Originally Posted by
Mitch
Integrity is definitely a critical factor in the future prosperity of harness racing.
The other major conundrum that administrators face is the hobbyist element of the sport. Many say it is (hobbyist) critical to the development and fabric of the sport, but it is also a large reason why punters steer clear due to the unpredictability of investing your money on a horse trained and/or driven by a 'part timer'. I see both sides of the fence and it's something I personally find hard to balance and rationalise in my own mind. My grandfather is a hobbyist and harness racing has been a massive part of his life for 50 years, yet as someone who loves to bet I rarely bet on a harness race, except for feature meetings, due to the unpredictability of horse & driver form.
I also feel that integrity and 'hobbyists' are extricably linked in many ways as well. Not as much from a prohibited substances usage perspective but more so from a racing perspective.
If increasing awareness, attendance & interest is critical to the future prosperity of the sport and harness racing is competing for a bigger slice of the wagering pie that is dominated by other sports which are extremely professional in their nature, then I keep coming back to the role of the hobbyist vs the professional.
I know this is a controversial and emotional topic but what do others think?