USA / Canada

[Messenger]

It makes interesting reading


*HISA is scheduled to go into effect no later than July 1, 2022
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is identified within the new law as the medication control enforcement body that will be the foundation of the Authority.
The new law does not specifically mention harness racing, and, indeed, some proponents of the legislation frequently questioned why the USTA was opposing a measure that did not include Standardbreds. However, the law contains an opt-in provision for each state racing commission to elect to have additional breeds covered by the law
The new law effectively removes medication control from the state racing commissions
The new law specifies that all race day medication, including Lasix, is to be phased out and ultimately prohibited
In addition to medication control, use of the whip/crop also would be regulated by the Authority as it is considered a racetrack safety issue

http://www.harnesslink.com/International/What-every-USTA-member-needs-to-know-about-the-new-HISA-law

[Messenger]

Keep Rockin another Aussie to be doing well in the US

http://ustrottingnews.com/bongiorno-bounces-back-wins-commodore-barry/

Go to the bottom third of the story (but you will find a link to the replay under the title)
This was on a sloppy track but still 1.50.1 - pretty much thanks to Soho Burning Love

Being not only a talent but also a valuable breeding proposition later - a full sis to My Mackenzie and a half to Vincent, you would think she should have fetched as much as $400k (but probably didn't)

[Showgrounds]

Keep Rockin could be a ready made replacement for Shartin. Same owner. Wonderful maternal line that just keeps getting stronger. I'll be bidding strongly for Mackenzie's first foal at next year's yearling sales (subject to being a sole 1st division Tattslotto winner in the meantime)!

[Messenger]

I will settle for Kept For Pleasure's current Bettors weanling if it goes through next year's yearling sales (and if I win 1st division Powerball)

[Messenger]

Looking at the way trainer Ron Burke totally dominates
It is pretty much the norm for him to have won 4x's the next best (which is the margin he holds so far this season)
Looking at 2019 (because it was not Covid affected) he won $21.41M to Tony Alagna's $5.99M (Alagna does have less than ¼ of the starters)

I also found this Harnesslink article from 2yrs ago when he reached 10,000 wins
"It all started when my dad sold the family business selling cars in 1981. We had two horses then. Now, I have about 300 and about 70 people on my staff," said Burke

https://harnesslink.com/new-zealand/ron-burke-hits-historical-10-000-victories/

[Messenger]

Reports of the USofA being world leaders is greatly exaggerated
If you want to contact USTA for instance you are hard pressed to find anything other than phone numbers (There are email options for member services and stats but nothing else)
So I think I will just contact Northfield Park directly and there you find nothing but phone numbers - get with the times America

While I am having a bash, what is with measuring time in fifths. James gets it

While horse racing has long employed photo-finish technology and video replay to ensure correct finishing orders and accurate returns to horsemen and horseplayers, the North American Standardbred sport in particular still reports race times in fifths of seconds, while largely using time-keeping technology developed in the first half of the 20th century.

And, as for that scant inch? In a 1:52 mile, an inch of separation would render competitors only 0.0018 seconds—eighteen ten-thousandths of a second—apart.

Yet, in practice, horses who finish up to three-quarters of a length apart are credited with the same time in past performance lines.

http://harnessracingfanzone.com/track-trends/

[Messenger]

I thought the Messenger Stakes would have been run and won 5 minutes ago

But I must be wrong as I cannot find a story about it or a betting agency covering it :confused:

[Messenger]

American Courage won
American Ideal also sired the previous winner in 2019
Betting Line's flagbearer Abuckabett Hanover broke when things got serious

To watch the replay go to this link, for the replay tab, select July 2, select R9

https://empirecitycasino.mgmresorts.com/en/racing/watch-races-online.html

It makes you appreciate our replays - I cannot believe they put up with being blinded by the lighting when entering the home straight

[Messenger]

Downbytheseaside's first crop take out the fillies and colts of the $150k Ohio sired Next Generation

[Messenger]

Here is the story

https://harnesslink.com/usa/next-generation-pace-produces-new-track-record/

The filly winner Sea Silk has broken the 2yo Tk Record at her very first start!

[Messenger]

It might not be long before old McArdle has another millionaire on his list
after Charlie May won the $700k Open 3yo Meadowland Pace today (last night US time)

WRONG see below

[Messenger]

Oh No they have done it again - relegated/disqualified a horse - Charlie May!
He went a little rough for a couple of strides on the final turn and a couple behind him were checked but in Oz it is all part of racing if you run into the back of something

[Messenger]

Read and watch

http://ustrottingnews.com/lawless-shadow-elevated-to-meadowlands-pace-victory/

[Messenger]

Charlie May’s owner appeals Meadowlands Pace disqualification

“Going to the gate, in my mind it doesn’t matter what happens, I already won. Here’s a little guy with two horses in training, saved the mare from the kill-pen, bred her, barely got the horse in foal, had a foal, a small diminutive Ohio-bred. He’s not some big, strapping colt, he’s a tiny little guy. We overcame everything you could do.”

Believing there was no reason for a disqualification, Miller had brought Charlie May back to the Meadowlands’ winner’s circle. Tiger said the driver told him afterward he was very surprised by the outcome.

“Brett said the horse in front of him interfered with him and that caused the chain reaction,” said Tiger. “He went to the winner’s circle and never thought in a million years they would take us down. It’s a muddy track, there’s bumping at the beginning, and (Southwind Gendry) put some steps in on the backside, he put some steps in on the turn. When you’re watching TV, you see the incident and it goes bang, bang, bang.”

http://ustrottingnews.com/charlie-mays-owner-appeals-meadowlands-pace-disqualification/

[Big K]

I feel for these people..it looked nothing more than a racing incident..nothing negligent in the drive at all..pretty sure you would have seen the same outcome no matter who was driving the horse in the same circumstance.

[Toohard]

And the horse that caused it all (4th across line) got 'promoted' to 3rd! :confused:

[Messenger]

And as the article states, the drivers aren't even interviewed!

[Messenger]

Captaintreacherous's Rockyroad Hanover won the $276k Cane Pace for 3yo C&G

[Messenger]

Captaintreacherous's Rockyroad Hanover won the $276k Cane Pace for 3yo C&G

The story with a replay link (so much easier than trying to explain how to find a replay on USTA)

[Messenger]

At the gallops

https://www.racingpost.com/news/international/top-trainer-jorge-navarro-admits-to-major-doping-programme/505187

Trainer Jorge Navarro has pleaded guilty to orchestrating an elaborate and significant doping programme to enhance the performance of his horses over a four-year period and could face up to five years in prison as well as having to pay back over $25 million to victims of his crimes.

[Messenger]

Captaintreacherous 4yo Catch The Fire has won the $325k Dan Patch at Hoosier Park in 1.48.1

[Messenger]

Big Ontario Canada meet

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fharnessracingupda te.com%2Fpdf%2Ftrackmaster%2F20210904wbs.pdf&clen=983648&chunk=true

The big races are 5, 8 & 10
plus R6&7 are heats of the North America Cup

R5 is 10.40am Sunday Melbourne time

[Messenger]

Just watched the first of the biggies (R5) on Sky 2 (all you need is a TAB account)
It was weird in the home straight as there seemed to be smoke blowing across the track, it could have been mist but would seem too isolated to be that. It was almost like someone had an incinerator going not far off the fence
The fav won well but you have to think 12 runners is too many (to all have a chance) in a Gp1 mile

[Messenger]

It is not just Captaintreacherous's 2yo's that are dominating
He quinellaed the $316k Roses Are Red

https://harnesslink.com/canada/lyons-sentinel-flies-late-in-roses-are-red/

[Messenger]

And he quinellaed the $590k Derby

https://harnesslink.com/canada/allywag-hanover-captures-590000-canadian-pacing-derby/

[Messenger]

North America Cup night (12.40 AEST). The Fan Hanover is at 11.22am here
Sunshine Beach's Stonebridge Helios just romped in the $213k 2yo despite drawing 8 of 8

[Messenger]

Shadow Play's Desperate Man (3rd fav) comes from behind to cause an upset in the $1m North America Cup for 3yo's

[Messenger]

Lou's Pearlman wins Little Brown Jug

https://harnesslink.com/usa/little-brown-jug-photo-finish-to-lous-pearlman/

[Messenger]

It is Canada that deserves our attention today
Woodbine Mohawk Park has the $824k CA for the 2yo pacers at 11.30am AEST
and the Mohawk Million for the 2yo trotters at 12.20

[Messenger]

Here are the Woodbine results - a big day for Always B Miki

https://standardbredcanada.ca/racing/results/data/r0925wbsbsn.dat

[Messenger]

Here are the stories with replays

https://harnesslink.com/canada/824000-metro-winner-comes-from-nowhere-to-upset/

https://harnesslink.com/canada/niki-hill-stays-perfect-in-500500-shes-a-great-lady/

In North America, we don't often see them come from as far back as Monte Miki

[Messenger]

Yearling trotting fillies selling for $800k at the Lexington Sale

https://harnesslink.com/usa/800000-sale-topper-opening-night-at-lexington/

[Messenger]

Live harness racing coverage of the 2-Year-Old Breeders Crown from The Meadowlands will be shown live on Harnesslink starting with Race 6 starting at 11:45am AUST this morning
There are four $600k finals

Live coverage will also be shown on Harnesslink of the four $600,000 three-year-old Finals and the four older finals on Sunday morning starting at 4.22am AUST time

https://harnesslink.com/new-zealand/600000-breeders-crown-finals-for-two-year-olds-live-coverage/

[Messenger]

Slightly old news but in case you missed it, Captain Treacherous progeny won 7/7 at the Meadowlands on Saturday

https://harnesslink.com/new-zealand/captaintreacherous-progeny-on-fire/

Not only did this stallion sire the winners of the four Kindergarten Stake races, he produced two trifectas, one with the fillies and one with the colts. This surely argues well for Captaintreacherous progeny to dominate the estimated $250,000 finals this coming weekend.

[Messenger]

I notice on the USTA's Top 10 page that Soho Lennon A (ustralia), now 11yo, won a $36k Claimer at Yonkers

[Messenger]

Winter in the North has meant that checking out the 'Yesterday's Top 10 Races' link has not unearthed much treasure of late
Today I find that there were $100k Delaware Breeders 3yo Finals yesterday
I know very little about USA racing but I have heard of Dover Downs
I am thinking however that Delaware might not be the strongest of harness states
At least breeding wise
I am basing this purely on the results of the pacing finals yesterday

I had not heard of the sires of the winners of these finals
And they don't make it onto the USTA's Stallion Showcase list

Tobago Cays (Rocknroll Hanover) sired the winner of the 3yoF
Delmarvalous (Badlands Hanover) the winner of the colts
Anders Bluestone (Yankee Glide) both divisions of the trotters

[Messenger]

Perfect Sting, Dan Patch 3yo Colt of the Year
has now been Disqualified from the Pennsylvania Sire Stake back in June (a win he got via relegation) for testing positive

https://harnesslink.com/usa/perfect-sting-had-positive-test-in-june/

I found this old link to how he got the win in the first place, I am guessing Southwind Gendry who originally finished 3rd has once again been promoted and is now the winner

https://standardbredcanada.ca/news/6-26-21/perfect-sting-placed-first-pass.html

Having won the Breeders Crown 2mths ago, I guess he keeps the 3yo Of The Year (unless we get a late Positive from that :eek:)

[Messenger]

It is not cheap to race in the better races at the Meadowlands

[Messenger]

As the yearling portion of the 2018 Standardbred Horse Sale neared completion, Joseph Lyons Mound looked to buy one more horse for his family’s racing stable. He had his eye on two fillies but was unsuccessful in placing the winning bid on either. Not a big deal, Lyons Mound told himself, because he already had purchased a good number of horses.

Prior to leaving, Lyons Mound stopped to chat with a friend. As they were talking, Lyons Mound heard that one of the fillies, Take Over Hanover, was returning to the ring to be resold. This time, Lyons Mound placed the top bid of $55,000 and came away with the filly.

She was renamed Lyons Sentinel. On Feb. 20, she will be honored at the U.S. Harness Writers Association’s annual banquet with the second Dan Patch Award of her career.

http://ustrottingnews.com/a-second-chance-to-remember-for-lyons-mound/

[Messenger]

At present Leonidas (A) is the top horse in the USA by earnings for 2022 with $58,500

[Messenger]

Amazing Dream arrived in Chicago yesterday

https://twitter.com/AdamHSport

[Showgrounds]

Good luck Dreamer, we are blessed to have known you since you were a skinny-legged yearling until you became the best performed mare ever to be exported to North America. I hope your 24 hours on the plane isn't part of the 10 day spell. Things will be different over there, no relaxing before you grind the opposition into the dirt. Fire up out of the barrier girl, your big motor and unbelievable will to win should break their hearts and win you many.

[Messenger]

Leonidas (A) has regained the lead on the US Top Earner list and has now won $78k for the year

[Messenger]

Slowly but surely all the culprits are being sentenced in the US
They are not being Disqualified - they are being sent to prison

Cheats take note!

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/chris-oakes-sentenced-to-three-years/

[Messenger]

Ignatius had his first US start on Saturday in R9 at the Meadowlands and although he could only manage 4th in a $18k full of southern hemisphere horses, his final quarter was 25.2 (25.4)

[Messenger]

Amazing Dream is in R12 at the Meadowlands this Saturday

[Showgrounds]

Amazing Dream is in R12 at the Meadowlands this Saturday

$31,000 Fillies and Mares, 10:55 PM New Jersey time, 10:55 AM NZ, 12:55 PM EST

1. A Better Game (Betterthancheddar)
2. Bettors Heart (2020 Ladyship Mile winner)
3. Beyond Words (2020/21 Gp 1 Queen of Hearts, Amazing Dream second)
4. Annabelle Hanover (SBSW)
5. Dbldelitebrigade N (formerly Doubledelitebrigade)
6. Majorca N (Art Major, former Grant Dixon mare)
7. Amazing Dream

Five Kiwi-breds, all well performed. Tough opposition first up for Dreamer but her two trials at The Meadowlands have been hugely impressive. A couple of the mare's have had their time in the spotlight, Amazing Dream has never been out of it. Interestin the connections opted to miss a heat of The Matchmaker at Yonkers for this.

[Messenger]

Amazing Dream is in R12 at the Meadowlands this Saturday

She is the lead story on the USTA website today

http://ustrottingnews.com/down-under-star-set-for-u-s-debut/

If direct link does not work

https://www.ustrotting.com/index.cfm

[Showgrounds]

Amazing Dream won in 1:51.1. Ignatius won race 8 in 1:50.4.

[Messenger]

Once again Leonidas A has regained the lead in the Top Earners of 2022 and has now earned $153,000 in under 4mths

[Messenger]

It is Pompano Park's last ever meeting today (Sunday US)
Here is Steve Wolf's thoughts on its demise and possible implications for US racing

https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/racing-news/62730-beware-of-caesar-s-bearing-gifts-the-death-of-harness-racing-in-florida-and-beyond

Here is a more nostalgic piece by him

https://harnesslink.com/usa/reflections-on-pompano-park-with-wally-hennessey/

[Messenger]

Leonidas A going for the big one

http://ustrottingnews.com/siegelman-seeks-mgm-borgata-redemption-with-leonidas-a/

[Messenger]

Leonidas 2nd :(

[Showgrounds]

The little champ rated 1:50.6 winning at The Meadowlands Saturday night in a $40,000 mares open pace. She beat a high quality field with 2021 US Horse of the Year finishing fourth. Watch the replay here:

https://playmeadowlands.com/racing/live-replay-video/

[Messenger]

American links are never friendly
after clicking on Trev's link
you have to select the Replays tab
Select Meadowlands MZ
Select Saturday the 7th
Select Race 9

You can see that we have it easy here

[Messenger]

North American Grand Circuit news

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/north-american-grand-circuit-now-off-and-racing/

[Messenger]

If the majority of these mares do not come back Downunder - it cannot be good for the breeding industry

[Messenger]

Majorca N who had the somewhat average NZ record of 48-6-4-3 before being exported to QLD where she had the incredible record of 10-8-1-1 in just 4 months at the end of last season, last night won the Betsy Ross in Philadelphia beating Amazing Dream into 4th

Here is the story

http://ustrottingnews.com/majorca-n-makes-major-statement-in-betsy-ross/

[Messenger]

Does anybody know if the Trittons took Funatthebeach NZ to the US with them?
When he was exported to Oz from NZ in late 2019 he only had the 2 starts here (for them) and I thought this would have coincided with them going to the US

Funatthebeach is atop the US earnings chart, having won $512,267 US so far this season but I note that he is leased and trained by somebody else

[Messenger]

I reckon there will be quite a few rolling home from the Meadowlands on Saturday night

https://playmeadowlands.com/event/2022-meadowlands-racetrack-wine-fest/

Look how long the wine list is !

[Messenger]

https://harnesslink.com/usa/dr-seth-fishman-gets-11-years-in-horse-doping-scandal/

Dr. Seth Fishman was sentenced to 11 years in prison for his conviction on two counts of conspiring to violate drug adulteration and misbranding laws.

[Messenger]

Bulldog Hanover just went 1.45.8

[Showgrounds]

Bulldog Hanover just went 1.45.8

New world record in the $500k Billy Haughton Memorial. In the previous race ($175k Dorothy Haughton Memorial) reigning USTA Horse of the Year ran a 1:47.0 mares world record. Amazing Dream a game second in 1:48.0.

[Adaptor]

New world record in the $500k Billy Haughton Memorial. In the previous race ($175k Dorothy Haughton Memorial) reigning USTA Horse of the Year ran a 1:47.0 mares world record. Amazing Dream a game second in 1:48.0.

https://standardbredcanada.ca/news/7-16-22/bulldog-hanover-breaks-146.html

[Messenger]

With the Grand Circuit yet to really burst into life, it will be interesting to see which sire takes the 2yo title
5 of last years top 6 are all there, along with Lazarus and Stay Hungry
Always B Miki is missing at this stage

[Showgrounds]

Miki was also late on the scene last year but finished with a late burst. It may be a characteristic of his stock.

[Messenger]

Todd McCarthy drives 52/1 shot to win the $1m Hambletonian
Sire Chapter Seven quinellaed the race
(being a day meet, early hours am here, it wasn't even covered by our TAB)

[Messenger]

Lisa Giannelli sentenced to 3-1/2 years in prison

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/horse-doping-seller-sentenced-42-months-manhattan-federal-court

[Messenger]

Now Rick Dane Jr gets 30mths

The government had connected Dane's criminal activities to that Fishman, a veterinarian ordered to serve a prison term of 11 years after a jury trial; Jordan Fishman, who's been sentenced to 15 months in prison; and Giannelli, a former employee of Seth Fishman recently sentenced to 42 months in prison. Among other activities, Seth Fishman designed PEDs that couldn't be detected in lab testing, and Jordan Fishman manufactured them.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/263099/dane-handed-30-month-prison-sentence-for-horse-doping

The years are starting to mount up in prison - not just suspended

[Messenger]

Eleven horses were entered in the 77th Little Brown Jug for 3-year-old pacers on Thursday (Sept. 22) at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, necessitating two eliminations. The top-four finishers from each $50,000 elim will advance to the $541,550 final later in the day.

https://ustrottingnews.com/little-brown-jug-draws-field-of-11/

[Messenger]

According to Harness Racing Uncovered, the second round of revelations in the American PEDs scandal will have more far reaching consequences than the criminal convictions we have already seen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtcwvHoSHAU

[Adaptor]

Eleven horses were entered in the 77th Little Brown Jug for 3-year-old pacers on Thursday (Sept. 22) at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, necessitating two eliminations. The top-four finishers from each $50,000 elim will advance to the $541,550 final later in the day.

https://ustrottingnews.com/little-brown-jug-draws-field-of-11/

Here are the fields on a massive 19 race card at Delaware OH.

https://racing.ustrotting.com/card.aspx

[Messenger]

If the above link opens on the weeks race program
Select Fairs, Thursday, Delaware 12.30 start

The heats of the Jug are R.15 & 16 with the Final the last

[Messenger]

Here is Ht.1

[Messenger]

Ht 2

[Messenger]

If Night Hawk won the Jug there could be a rethink on Betting Line

[Messenger]

Bythemissal wins

[Messenger]

The Little Brown Jug, which attracted a crowd of 42,836

https://ustrottingnews.com/bythemissal-wins-little-brown-jug/

I know that is most likely the fair crowd for the day but we could only dream of those numbers nowadays

[Messenger]

It makes interesting reading


*HISA is scheduled to go into effect no later than July 1, 2022
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is identified within the new law as the medication control enforcement body that will be the foundation of the Authority.
The new law does not specifically mention harness racing, and, indeed, some proponents of the legislation frequently questioned why the USTA was opposing a measure that did not include Standardbreds. However, the law contains an opt-in provision for each state racing commission to elect to have additional breeds covered by the law
The new law effectively removes medication control from the state racing commissions
The new law specifies that all race day medication, including Lasix, is to be phased out and ultimately prohibited
In addition to medication control, use of the whip/crop also would be regulated by the Authority as it is considered a racetrack safety issue

http://www.harnesslink.com/International/What-every-USTA-member-needs-to-know-about-the-new-HISA-law

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit declares HISA unconstitutional

“The end result is that Congress has given a private entity the last word over what rules govern our nation’s thoroughbred horseracing industry. The Constitution forbids that. For good reason, the Constitution vests federal power only in the three branches of the federal government. Congress defies this basic safeguard by vesting government power in a private entity not accountable to the people. That is what it has done in HISA. The Authority’s power outstrips any private delegation the Supreme Court or our court has allowed. We must therefore declare HISA facially unconstitutional.”

https://ustrottingnews.com/u-s-court-of-appeals-for-the-fifth-circuit-declares-hisa-unconstitutional/

[Messenger]

After six years, Racing Hill returns to the racetrack

https://ustrottingnews.com/after-six-years-racing-hill-returns-to-the-racetrack/

Greed personified?

[Showgrounds]

After six years, Racing Hill returns to the racetrack

https://ustrottingnews.com/after-six-years-racing-hill-returns-to-the-racetrack/

Greed personified?

A little bit more logical than entering Soho Tribeca in the Inter Dominion.

[Messenger]

Trainer Ron Burke tops 1000 wins in a season again

https://ustrottingnews.com/burke-tops-1000-wins-again/

Lifetime, he has won 13,315 races and just over $295 million in purses, both records for a trainer.

Second in career wins among trainers is Virgil Morgan Jr., with a total approaching 7,200. Second in lifetime purses is Jimmy Takter, who retired with $130 million to his credit.

This season he is more than double the next closest in earnings and more than triple the next closest in wins
That is domination

[Messenger]

Burke cannot be liked by the media as

Jim Campbell, the winner of the Garnsey Trainer of the Year Award, had a fine UTR for 2022 of .428, and put up his third-best seasonal earnings figure, nearing $2.9M, after starting far few horses than he did in his two best years for earnings.

Jim earned $750,000 of that lofty earnings figure in the space of two hours on Aug. 6 at The Meadowlands, where he became only the third trainer to send out the winners of the Hambletonian (Cool Papa Bell) and the Hambletonian Oaks (Fashion Schooner) in one year.

https://ustrottingnews.com/brad-grant-dexter-dunn-named-ushwa-dan-patch-owner-driver-of-the-year-jim-campbell-selected-as-trainer-of-the-year/

Burke earnt over $22m compared to Campbell's $2.9m (Burke has won it 3 times in the past - two of which were other 1,000 winner seasons)

[Messenger]

The Ron Burke Stable is training 75 2-year-olds

https://ustrottingnews.com/burke-training-center-2023-training-roster/

[Messenger]

He has 12 Sweet Lou and 11 Downbytheseaside
Going on last year's leading 2yo Sires table he is definitely under-represented on Captaintreacherous and a bit under on Huntsville, American Ideal and Lazarus

https://www.ustrotting.com/trackside/sire_stats/stats.cfm?type=earnings&gait=P&yr=2022&age=2

[Messenger]

Betting Line's top 2yo earnt $57k US so you can see why he is dead in the water over there
Captaintreacherous had 9 earn over $150k US

[Messenger]

Some takes from an interesting article

https://harnesslink.com/usa/economic-indicators-lean-towards-owners/

Despite a positive rise in in purses paid and in the number of race days held in the USA for 2022, the total wagering number was down -8.44% over 2021. While in Canada, which was shut down for a lot of 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions or raced without spectators showed an increase in both wagering and purses paid of a dramatic +40% increase in both categories.

JAY HOCHSTETLER, owner, trainer, driver – “This is probably a topic that deserves an academic research paper rather than my deductions because I think it is so multi-faceted, but every part combines together to create the massive discrepancy in handle change. Canadian tracks programs are accessible for free to anyone while US tracks are behind paywalls. That’s just a sign of respect to the bettor lots of people are drawn to.

[Adaptor]

Betting Line's top 2yo earnt $57k US so you can see why he is dead in the water over there
Captaintreacherous had 9 earn over $150k US

Betting Line breeding statistics the USTA Stallion Showcase:

http://stars.ustrotting.com/stallion.cfm?stallion_id=

First season at stud resulted in 2018 122 live foals at Hanover Shoe Farms

Last year 2022, 23 live foals.standing at Winbak in Canada.

He was shunted quite quickly.

[Messenger]

Nick Surick sentenced to 62 months in prison

In addition, Surick was ordered to pay restitution in the total amount of $42,752,532 to the victims of the offenses of conviction.


https://ustrottingnews.com/nick-surick-sentenced-to-62-months-in-prison/

[Messenger]

Lochinvar wins

[Showgrounds]

Perhaps North America is Copy That's future, but his trainer doesn't believe bleeding is a problem.

[Messenger]

Furthermore, the effects of bleeding are likely to be progressive and lung damage cumulative, ultimately leading to significant decreases in performance. This is likely because blood in the lung causes pulmonary inflammation (for at least three weeks following each episode), red cells are cleared slowly, and repeated bouts of exercise may result in repeated episodes of EIPH.

https://www.racingvictoria.com.au/the-horse/veterinary-care/~/media/eb7a9d978aee49b08317d1e3fdff300f.ashx#:~:text=When %20galloping%2C%20racehorses%20have%20a,the%20alve oli%20of%20the%20lung.

[Messenger]

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit declares HISA unconstitutional

“The end result is that Congress has given a private entity the last word over what rules govern our nation’s thoroughbred horseracing industry. The Constitution forbids that. For good reason, the Constitution vests federal power only in the three branches of the federal government. Congress defies this basic safeguard by vesting government power in a private entity not accountable to the people. That is what it has done in HISA. The Authority’s power outstrips any private delegation the Supreme Court or our court has allowed. We must therefore declare HISA facially unconstitutional.”

https://ustrottingnews.com/u-s-court-of-appeals-for-the-fifth-circuit-declares-hisa-unconstitutional/

The USTA continue to oppose HISA

see the link to the letter here

https://ustrottingnews.com/usta-urges-ftc-to-disapprove-anti-doping-and-medication-control-rule-proposed-by-hisa/

[Messenger]

Charlie May’s owner appeals Meadowlands Pace disqualification

“Going to the gate, in my mind it doesn’t matter what happens, I already won. Here’s a little guy with two horses in training, saved the mare from the kill-pen, bred her, barely got the horse in foal, had a foal, a small diminutive Ohio-bred. He’s not some big, strapping colt, he’s a tiny little guy. We overcame everything you could do.”

Believing there was no reason for a disqualification, Miller had brought Charlie May back to the Meadowlands’ winner’s circle. Tiger said the driver told him afterward he was very surprised by the outcome.

“Brett said the horse in front of him interfered with him and that caused the chain reaction,” said Tiger. “He went to the winner’s circle and never thought in a million years they would take us down. It’s a muddy track, there’s bumping at the beginning, and (Southwind Gendry) put some steps in on the backside, he put some steps in on the turn. When you’re watching TV, you see the incident and it goes bang, bang, bang.”

http://ustrottingnews.com/charlie-mays-owner-appeals-meadowlands-pace-disqualification/

NJ Judge declares Charlie May winner of the 2021 Meadowlands Pace

https://ustrottingnews.com/nj-judge-declares-charlie-may-winner-of-the-2021-meadowlands-pace/

Now we will have to wait up to 45 days to see what the New Jersey Racing Commission does about it

[Messenger]

The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Friday (March 3) ruled the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) constitutional. The decision is in stark contrast with the Fifth Circuit ruling, which unanimously found HISA unconstitutional late last year.

https://ustrottingnews.com/sixth-circuit-rules-hisa-constitutional/

[Messenger]

I don't know whether it is a positive for Australia or says a lot about US racing that our horses dominated the first round of the Borgata Pacing Series for free-for-allers
"The top 40 open class US horses are competing in the series to be staged over five weeks at Yonkers"

https://harnesslink.com/usa/lochinvar-art-prevails-in-borgata-opener/

[Messenger]

Lochinvar Art is now 5 from 5 in the US

https://harnesslink.com/usa/lochinvar-art-stays-unbeaten-in-usa-borgata-series/

[Showgrounds]

While Lochinvar Art has been winning, mostly against horses he would handle with ease here at his peak, the great little mare Amazing Dream is backed with a vengeance.

She recorded her third win from three starts this year overnight at Yonkers. She sprinted past Racine Belle at the top of the straight rating 1:51.8. All her 3 wins have been $40,000 heats of the rich Matchmaker series and she has now won 29 times for over $1.75 million Aus.

Opinions about her drop in form late last year appeared largely ignorant as to the mare's racing patterns, total rubbish as she could win from anywhere. The facts are after running a cracking third in last year's Hunter Cup she was straight into racing in the snowbound USA. Eventually, she got her much-needed and deserved spell.

She led all the way in her first two wins this time in but took a sit last night.

As an aside, her 4 year old brother Special Dream must have used her as inspiration as he celebrated his 2nd win from 15 starts at Addington this afternoon. Raced by his breeders, his $16,879 NZ gives him a bit of work to do compared to his sister.

[Messenger]

Lochinvar Art, Idealsomemagic, Leonidas, Amazing Dream, Dougs Babe - plenty of downunder interest in the Borgata and Matchmaker finals, Tuesday our time. Here are the draws

https://ustrottingnews.com/fields-drawn-for-borgata-matchmaker-finals/

[Messenger]

Borgata Final at 12.03 midday our time NOW saying 11.59
Lochinvar not that fancied
No market up for the Matchmaker which is the race before at 11.40am NOW saying 11.35
Interesting to note the short time between races

[Messenger]

Amazing Dream leads all the way in a slow 1.53.1 to win the Matchmaker

[Messenger]

5yo Hellabalou, by far the youngest in the race, wins the Borgata
For the third year in a row, Leonidas performed well - finishing strongly for 2nd
Lochinvar Art never really got in the race

[Showgrounds]

Amazing Dream leads all the way in a slow 1.53.1 to win the Matchmaker

She didn't need to go any faster. Prior to the Matchmaker final the HRA website shows her prizemoney total at $1,658,278. 50% of the US$328,000 stake for winning on today's exchange rate (US$1 = AUS$1.5) earns her AUUS$246,000, which takes her past $1.9 million. An amazing little mare who, as costly as she was when purchased, has turned into somewhat of a bargain for her owners. She should be a ripping broodmare to boot.

[Showgrounds]

Just in from the USA. Amazing Dream was sold prior to the Matchmaker final and will race on to the breeding season in the ownership of Shartin's owners.

A nice pare of broodmares to have in your paddock. Great to see a couple of Australasia's best females I proving the broodmare ranks in North America instead of being raced into the ground.

[Messenger]

In Australia/Vic they are contemplating 1200m racing - mile racing is boring enough

[Messenger]

$300m

https://ustrottingnews.com/ron-burke-surpasses-300-million-mark-in-career-earnings/

[Messenger]

$300m

https://ustrottingnews.com/ron-burke-surpasses-300-million-mark-in-career-earnings/

And David Miller is not far behind him - $272m

https://ustrottingnews.com/winning-never-gets-old-for-ron-burke/

[Messenger]

The USTA continue to oppose HISA

see the link to the letter here

https://ustrottingnews.com/usta-urges-ftc-to-disapprove-anti-doping-and-medication-control-rule-proposed-by-hisa/

And continue to

https://ustrottingnews.com/an-open-letter-to-the-jockey-club-from-the-usta/

Is this because they don't want to lose Losec?

[Messenger]

Hall of Fame trotter CR Kay Suzie, 31, dies

https://ustrottingnews.com/hall-of-fame-trotter-cr-kay-suzie-31-dies/

Be sure to click on the link at the end of the above article - it leads to a great read

Kaylie Allen, age 10, got right to the point. “What happened to my horse, Grandpa?” she asked Carl Allen. The young horsewoman had been out on the family’s Ocala, Florida farm, looking for her namesake, Country Kaylie.
“We sold her. She wasn’t fast enough,” said Allen. “Would you sell me, too, if I wasn’t fast enough?” asked the first Allen girl in two generations.
“That did it,” said Rod Allen. “My dad said, ‘We’re going to the sale. We’re going to buy a filly. We’re going to name her something Kaylie. And I don’t care what happens; we’re never selling her.”

“Dr. [Rick] Balmer said, ‘She’s done for the year.’ She stood in the stall about four days, lame on the heel. Dad walked past that stall and past that stall and finally said, ‘Get her out here.’”
“Dad made her a window bar shoe,” said Rod Allen. “It took the pressure off the spot she hurt. We put that on, she walked sound. We no more got it nailed on than he said, ‘Put the harness on her.’ We go jogging her and she’s sound.”
The Merrie Annabelle is first major race of the year for young trotting fillies, with a purse of $385,500. “Her first real race was an elimination for the Merrie Annabelle. She won it by a nose.”
In the final, the favorite was driven by John Campbell, the sport’s leading driver. “John pulled even and thought he was going to go by,” says Allen. “Suzie just pulled away.” The time of 1:55.1 was a world record.

[Showgrounds]

I remember CR Kay Suzie racing, absolute champion.

[Messenger]

The Sweet Lou son Its My Show won the North America Cup last night in 1.47.2 (1.47.4)
Sweet Lou stands for $15k US over there which is about $22k Au
He is only $10k chilled here

[Messenger]

She didn’t have the best trip, but that certainly didn’t deter filly Sylvia Hanover in the C$420,000 Fan Hanover final, for 3-year-old pacing fillies

The incredible daughter of Always B Miki recorded her third win in as many tries this year after winning eight of nine starts last season. Her 1:48.2 winning time tied the track, stakes and Canadian record for 3-year-old pacing fillies, established by American Jewel in 2012.

https://ustrottingnews.com/sylvia-hanover-simply-sensational-in-fan-hanover/

[Messenger]

This is the Sires representation for the 15 colts and geldings contesting the Meadowlands Pace eliminations on Saturday


Captaintreacherous 5
Sweet Lou 3
Stay Hungry 2
Always B Miki
Heston Blue Chip
American Ideal
State Treasurer
Lazarus

American Ideal is the only one who has a previous winner
While Captaintreacherous was a winner of the race himself

Here are the runners

https://ustrottingnews.com/fifteen-declared-for-meadowlands-pace/

You will notice there are no facepalm names on the list
(pushing my barrow here - if you want a champ give him a champ's name)
The oddest name is Lazarus's Voukefalas
It is Greek for 'large oxen head'

[Messenger]

Sweet Lou's won both with Cannibal and Confederate. Here is the field for the Final

https://ustrottingnews.com/cannibal-confederate-take-meadowlands-pace-elims-confederate-morning-line-fave-for-final/

[Messenger]

World Record

Ervin Hanover cut the fractions in his elimination, throwing down a swift 1:20.1 three-quarters while It’s My Show followed patiently in third. But when Scott Zeron tipped him off the cones, the Sweet Lou-Put On A Show gelding left Ervin Hanover in his wake and defeated the closing Ken Hanover by a length while Ervin Hanover saved show.

The mile is the fastest ever by a 3-year-old gelding on a five-eighths-mile track, knocking a tick from the record shared by Wiggle It Jiggleit and Lucan Hanover.

https://ustrottingnews.com/its-my-show-sets-147-4-world-record-in-adios-eliminations/

1.47.4 - the Sweet Lou's are certainly doing well of late

[Messenger]

Idealsomemagic who left our shores over a year ago, and was only an 80'ish rater, beat the cream of the USA in the Joe Gerrity Jr Memorial at Saratoga on the weekend.
The field included the last two winners, multi millionaires, This Is The Plan and Tattoo Artist

https://ustrottingnews.com/idealsomemagic-a-springs-upset-in-gerrity/

[Messenger]

Sweet Lou's are certainly dominating in the US in 2023

Cannibal won the Delvin Miller Adios Pace on Saturday

Confederate won the Meadowlands Pace a couple of weeks ago

Its My Show won the North America Cup last month

[Messenger]

While Victoria are going backwards the US continue to gain traction

For the first time in over a decade, the Hambletonian will be shown to a widespread national television audience, as Fox Sports (Fox 5 New York) will show the 98th edition of “America’s Classic Trotting Race” as part of the New York Racing Association’s “FOX Saratoga Saturday,” a three-hour presentation of live action from Saratoga Race Course on Saturday (Aug. 5).

https://ustrottingnews.com/fox-broadcast-to-raise-hambletonian-to-new-heights/

[Messenger]

Yesterday Confederate added the Cane Pace to his Meadowlands Pace victory

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=EH050823#EHM05082308

[Messenger]

and now the Max Hempt Memorial to take Confederate's 3yo earnings up to $837,929 US

https://harnesslink.com/usa/100000-hempt-consolation-ii-goes-in-149-3/

[KTQ]

Confederate wins again - this time breaking the world record for a 3yo. Went 1.46.1!!!

[Messenger]

USA is certainly increasing their exposure thanks to Fox Sports 2

For only the second time, harness racing will be featured on Fox Sports 2 (FS2) on back-to-back nights. What makes this weekend’s shows unique is for the first time they are originating from two different tracks.

The Meadowlands will kick off the broadcast doubleheader tonight (Sept. 8). On Saturday (Sept. 9), Scioto Downs will make their FS2 debut.

According to the New York Racing Association’s (NYRA) senior director of TV broadcast operations Eric Donovan, a weekend like this would not have been possible without their existing rapport with The Meadowlands president/chief executive officer Jeff Gural.

“If we didn’t have that first year [2021] with The Meadowlands, I don’t think there’s Breeders Crown coverage last year [at Woodbine Mohawk Park],” said Donovan. “I don’t think there’s the general appeal to the industry and then reaching across to the Caesar’s properties and then the Little Brown Jug, and possibly something at Red Mile, too.

“So, yeah, I mean, it all started with that relationship with The Meadowlands and we’re very, very appreciative of all the support we’ve gotten from Jeff and his team, and, I hope we’ve been able to deliver for him.”

Gural had felt for a long time that harness racing belonged on national TV more than just once a year and in 2021 his relationship with NYRA produced a two-hour Meadowlands Pace show on FS2 (detailed here in HRU).

Following the success of that inaugural broadcast, the next month there was a Hambletonian “look in” on FS2 and then three-and-a-half hours of Breeders Crown coverage on Saturday (Oct. 30).

It wasn’t until last year with the Crown from Woodbine Mohawk Park, that the broadcast expanded outside the border of The Meadowlands, opening up a slew of possibilities to NYRA and the rest of industry.

This year, the broadcast offerings broadened even further adding the Dan Patch from Hoosier Park in August to the eight shows — plus a cut-in on Hambletonian Day — already on the schedule with The Meadowlands.

https://harnessracingupdate.com/2023/09/08/gurals-vision-has-helped-expand-harness-racings-tv-exposure/

[KTQ]

USA is certainly increasing their exposure thanks to Fox Sports 2

For only the second time, harness racing will be featured on Fox Sports 2 (FS2) on back-to-back nights. What makes this weekend’s shows unique is for the first time they are originating from two different tracks.

The Meadowlands will kick off the broadcast doubleheader tonight (Sept. 8). On Saturday (Sept. 9), Scioto Downs will make their FS2 debut.

According to the New York Racing Association’s (NYRA) senior director of TV broadcast operations Eric Donovan, a weekend like this would not have been possible without their existing rapport with The Meadowlands president/chief executive officer Jeff Gural.

“If we didn’t have that first year [2021] with The Meadowlands, I don’t think there’s Breeders Crown coverage last year [at Woodbine Mohawk Park],” said Donovan. “I don’t think there’s the general appeal to the industry and then reaching across to the Caesar’s properties and then the Little Brown Jug, and possibly something at Red Mile, too.

“So, yeah, I mean, it all started with that relationship with The Meadowlands and we’re very, very appreciative of all the support we’ve gotten from Jeff and his team, and, I hope we’ve been able to deliver for him.”

Gural had felt for a long time that harness racing belonged on national TV more than just once a year and in 2021 his relationship with NYRA produced a two-hour Meadowlands Pace show on FS2 (detailed here in HRU).

Following the success of that inaugural broadcast, the next month there was a Hambletonian “look in” on FS2 and then three-and-a-half hours of Breeders Crown coverage on Saturday (Oct. 30).

It wasn’t until last year with the Crown from Woodbine Mohawk Park, that the broadcast expanded outside the border of The Meadowlands, opening up a slew of possibilities to NYRA and the rest of industry.

This year, the broadcast offerings broadened even further adding the Dan Patch from Hoosier Park in August to the eight shows — plus a cut-in on Hambletonian Day — already on the schedule with The Meadowlands.

https://harnessracingupdate.com/2023/09/08/gurals-vision-has-helped-expand-harness-racings-tv-exposure/
It's all how harness is sold. If it's sold as a glamorous, shiny exciting prospect with data and facts to build interest and conversation, then yeh it will fit in perfect on Fox Sports. If it's shown with grainy, dull filmed from 2000m away footage with moths buzzing about then no, it wont gain traction. We will never grow as a sport with the poor quality of footage and poorly lit tracks that we currently have regionally.

[Messenger]

Too much football on the weekend and finally catching up with The Little Brown Jug

In the final Stay Hungry had 3 runners while Sweet Lou and Huntsville had 2 each, with a Captain Treacherous and an All Bets Off (Bettors) the other 2

Seven Colors (Stay Hungry) and Cannibal (Sweet Lou) were pretty much equal favourites but it was another Sweet Lou runner - It's My Show that took the prize

In the Eliminations, Captain Treacherous's Ken Hanover paced the fastest mile ever in Jug history in 1.48.4 (1.48.8)

https://harnesslink.com/usa/its-my-show-upsets-in-1-million-little-brown-jug/

[Messenger]

The USTA are now supporting the introduction of a new bill: The Racehorse Health and Safety Act
They have never supported HISA
They claim -
"After HISA was fully implemented this May, 12 horses died in six weeks at Churchill Downs Racetrack, home of the Kentucky Derby. Even though HISA admitted the racetrack was in “full compliance” with its racetrack safety rules, Churchill Downs was shut down, and races were moved to another track. Under HISA’s watch other racing fatalities occurred at Triple Crown racetracks and at prominent tracks in Maryland and New York. Despite spending $66.5 million this year, the HISA Authority recently failed to identify the cause of the problem."

https://ustrottingnews.com/racehorse-health-and-safety-act-introduced-coalition-introduces-bill-to-bring-safety-to-the-industry-after-hisas-failure/

[Messenger]

$800kUS for a yearling trotting filly by a first season sire

https://ustrottingnews.com/kadena-sells-for-800000-at-opening-session-of-lexington-selected-sale/

It equaled the filly record set in 2021 by Exile - not found on ClassicFamilies so I don't know that Exile has raced

$700kUS for a Captaintreacherous yearling filly set a new pacing filly record
The previous record of $625k was for Laugh A Day in 1983 - she only ever won $38,555

[Messenger]

It would appear that USA harness continues to do a good job of putting itself out there
Breeders Crown on Fox Sports 2 this Friday and Satureday

https://ustrottingnews.com/breeders-crown-on-fox-sports-2-friday-and-saturday/

[Messenger]

Confederate (Sweet Lou) again in the 3yo C&G Breeders Crown - making it 12 wins from 13 starts this season and nearly $2m in earnings

https://harnesslink.com/usa/confederate-is-spectacular-in-breeders-crown-romp/

[Messenger]

https://harnesslink.com/usa/for-immediate-release-meadowlands-racetrack/

The following is just a couple of extracts

Meadowlands Releases Names On Exclusion List (There are 33 trainers on the list!)

East Rutherford, NJ – November 3, 2023 – The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, the Hon. Mary Kay Vyskocil, has entered Orders of Conviction for Seth Fishman and Lisa Giannelli each having been charged as Defendants in the matter of United States v. Navarro, Docket No. 1:20-cr-00160-MKV– SDNY.

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, who prosecuted these cases, announced at the time that Seth Fishman DVM received a sentence of 11 years in prison for his role at the helm of an approximately twenty-year scheme to manufacture, market, and sell to racehorse trainers and others in the racehorse industry “untestable” performance enhancing drugs for use in professional horseracing.

Also, as part of its investigation, the Federal government conducted its own collection of blood and urine samples from racehorses, both post-race and from out of competition testing. Below is a list under the category, Drug Positives Federal Investigation, identifying trainers whose horses tested positive in those tests.

This remains a serious matter. Consequently, the Meadowlands is conducting its own internal investigation given these revelations. And until that investigation is completed, the Meadowlands has determined that all individuals listed below will be placed on the Meadowlands exclusion list.

[trish]

https://harnesslink.com/usa/gural-to-match-100000-in-recovery-aid-for-tioga-fire-victims/


IMO The best thing for this grub , if convicted is to put him in a barn & set it alight. Obviously making sure he can not get out!!!!

Terrible , those poor horses . Very sad .

[Messenger]

The Meadowlands, Jeff Gural on doping (from HarnessRacingUpdate)

I read what I assume was an editorial in last Sunday’s HRU and you hit the nail on the head. Unfortunately, the reality is that nobody cares as the vast majority of tracks are owned by casino owners and almost all of the purse money is generated by slot machines. As a result, doing anything to increase handle at a track with slot machines makes little or no sense.

I do agree that my dispute with Faraldo hurts the sport and a few years ago I was on a panel with Joe in Saratoga and I went up to him afterwards and asked him if he wanted to bury the hatchet for the good of the sport and he made it clear that he had no interest. At least you should know I tried.

As far as performance enhancing drugs, all one has to do is read the transcripts of the trial of Lisa Gianelli formerly Lisa Ranger and Seth Fishman and you would see exactly how bad it is. Lisa was a [salesperson] for Fishman selling both therapeutic and performance enhancing drugs and receiving a commission of 17 per cent of sales. It is illegal for anyone to be buying any drugs from a veterinarian who has not examined your horse before they prescribe the medication. She would visit the training centers every two weeks and drop off the medications that were ordered by her customers. Since she was getting a commission, it was in her best interest to encourage the sale of these medications and to the best of my knowledge no one called the USTA hotline to report this illegal activity.

So far, we have only been able to view the customers that Gianelli was selling to and have not been able to obtain the records of who was buying drugs directly from Fishman. I was told there are an additional 200 names on that list, but so far we have not been able to obtain the information.

https://harnessracingupdate.com/2023/12/03/gural-on-doping-and-more/

[Messenger]

The Burke Stable is training 79 2-year-olds in 2024

https://ustrottingnews.com/burke-training-center-2024-training-roster/

[Messenger]

https://paulickreport.com/features/keeping-pace/keeping-pace-state-of-horse-racings-social-contract

Another big reason I’ll now be writing regularly about the federal racing integrity law is because someone in the world of harness racing has to do it. Right now, no one does. The United States Trotting Association, of which I am a dues-paying member, should be devoting its website to fair coverage of the law. Instead, the USTA has effectively become a propaganda organ for anti-HISA views. The USTA’s website and social media products, which thousands of people check daily, churn out a relentless stream of one-sided coverage against the federal law. My fellow horsemen and horsewomen deserve to see for themselves the other sides to the story.

By turning their otherwise excellent website into an anti-HISA propaganda organ, and by suing to stop the enforcement of the new racing integrity law, USTA leaders have alienated hundreds of industry stakeholders who are opposed to such short-sighted tactics. For example, the USTA’s involvement in the doomed legal effort to stop the law has cost the USTA hundreds of thousands of dollars and precluded anyone in the harness community from working officially with HISA officials to prepare for the likely day that harness racing is covered by the law. USTA members who think the USTA’s strategy is nuts deserve an outlet for their views.

[Messenger]

https://harnesslink.com/usa/burke-broken-by-latest-brush-with-officialdom-its-not-enjoyable-anymore/

“It’s not an enjoyable thing anymore to train horses, it’s going to be what gets me out of the harness racing business.”

That was the sentiment from Harness Racing’s first $300 million dollar man in a Harnesslink exclusive interview detailing the latest twist in the saga with industry regulators and their somewhat unhinged crusade to clean up the sport.

North America’s quest for clean racing on the back of the recent federal indictments has reached a tipping point, with some of the sports biggest names caught in the crosshairs, including the biggest of them all, Ron Burke.

We no doubt need common sense but clearly more campaigning against HISA

[Messenger]

https://harnesslink.com/usa/fwd-mane-freehold-tragedy/

This opinion piece by John Berry is about more than just the closure of Freehold a home of harness racing for 170 years

Read all the article and you will no doubt see some relevance to Australia too

[trish]

Dreadful.
IMO , People are simply sick of all the wrong that is associated with the industry.

[Messenger]

U.S. harness racing economic indicators see decreases in 2024


Total wagering of $1,470,658,827 during the past year was $114,699,372 less than 2023, a 7.23% decrease. However, the 2024 total was only $16.4 million less than two years ago in 2022.

Purses in 2024 decreased by 1.93%. Last year, $491,734,380 in purses were distributed over 3,149 race days compared to 2023 when $501,391,585 in purses were earned in 3,218 race days.

According to Equibase, handle on Thoroughbred racing in North America was also down, by 3.35%, in 2024, marking the third consecutive year that wagering has declined.

https://ustrottingnews.com/u-s-harness-racing-economic-indicators-see-decreases-in-2024/