Congratulations!

[Chris Wittstruck]

John, Duane and crew: Congratulations on establishing yet another wonderful tool for Harness Racing enthusiasts to stay informed and keep each other abreast of happenings in a great sport and World-wide industry!

[Jimmy]

I agree chris, lets hope every one jumps on, and has some fun and learn more about this great sport of ours

[Allan]

Absolutely, the standardbred world is underserved when it comes to being able to communicate with fellow enthusiasts. Thanks you for putting this forum up.

[trotter2229]

This is an awesome forum for us passionate harness fans. Through communication I have wanted to start a crusade to bring people back to the track.


Crusade:
• exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause
• be an advocate for;
• campaign: a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end

Crusade for our image as a sport…not just gambling
This has been a story that I have told many times in my crusade to better explain Harness Racing to new fans. But recently an incident occurred that brought that message to the forefront again for me.
Recently we had my in-laws over for the weekend and I suggested to my Father-in-law that we go to the track on Saturday night and I could introduce him to Harness Racing. My mother-in-law quickly said to him that to not bet more than $2.00 per race because she didn’t want him gambling his money away. At that point I went into my crusade pitch that Harness Racing is a sport just like hockey, baseball, football, basketball etc. Whatever is spent wagering on the races is just the cost of entertainment, and you might get a return on your wager or even make money.
I said to her “what if I had bought 2 tickets to the Hockey game that night and my father-in-law was paying for half the costs”. She said “that would be fantastic he loves his team.” I said to her “that is interesting to me because you are really concerned about him gambling and losing $20.00 to enjoy a night of racing but you are Ok with him spending over $100.00 to see a hockey team play and have no opportunity to win back the money.
With the thought of Harness Racing being a sport in her head and the wagering just the way you pay for your ticket to see the sport she took a completely different approach to a night at the races and my father-in-law was able to take $50.00 to the track…what a victory…
We have to ask ourselves why people are comfortable spending over $100.00 per person per game on sports and yet panic if they heard you spent the same wagering on harness racing.
Just to give a comparison I have included a chart below on average costs, you can certainly spend a lot more:
Sport Annual Season Ticket Cost Parking Per Season
Hockey $3,526 $800
Baseball $3,103 $1600
Basketball $4,050 $900
Golf Membership $2,000 to ??? Free
Harness Racing Free Free

Can you imagine the feelings of your family and friends if you told them that you spent over spent over $4,000 wagering on Harness Racing in the past year. They would all be holding an intervention for you to get over your gambling problem. You would have the Gamblers Anonymous phone number secretly placed in your birthday card…
The only difference is the perception of how the money is spent. At other sporting events it is considered the cost of entertainment where it is considered gambling with horse racing. I would rather take a chance with my money where I could get some of it back in wagering. We need to create a crusade to help the public understand that wagering is just a sport/entertainment investment like they make with any other sport but with racing there is a chance to get a return.
We must remove the perception of gambling and all the negative feelings and promote the fantastic sport with exceptional athletes both human and horse. As much as we all love slots for what they have contributed to our sport that is true gambling. Bet money with no skill, get no sports/entertainment, and have little chance to get a return.
I ask all Harness Racing crusaders reading this article to talk with their family and friends and explain this concept and as a crusader bring them to the track AND THEN SHOW THEM HOW TO BET ONLINE SO THEY CAN PLAY EVERYDAY.

[Thad Brzoska]

Congratulations Keep getting the word out. So far it is a nice, civil, intelligent forum.

[newschool]

Hi trotter 2229:

That is an excellent crusade idea you have commited to. Now if only each person with a vested interest would start their own crusade, just think how much better the future of the industry would look today.

I would like to see your idea presented to start of a new thread on the Canadian forum. Would you like to do that, or do you mind if I do?