IDEAS on how we can improve Harness Racing

[Big K]

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.

I think both options presented are full of merit. I just had a quick look at the speed skating scenario and think it is something I would like to see given ago.. initially at trials and adopted from there into racing if it is workable. I have for a long time thought that straight track racing is our future or at the least there is a track in each State. It provides more opportunities for everybody involved..especially the punters who provide our income for stakes and whom we are losing hand over fist currently. I have friends who go to the Gallops for the day but still only watch the races on tv there as it's impossible to really see what's going on unless you have binoculars... but the perception is that you get a run for your money.. which is becoming lost with betting on harness. In my opinion, I wouldn't like to see lanes as if one horse makes a break or veer's out it can have a knock on effect and the stewards would have a full time job sorting it out..I think the option of drivers having the choice of ducking in behind another runner till he was ready to unleash would allow the driver the room and the skill to be on show still. I think a very immediate thing that needs to be done is to create mobile handicapping system using a lighting system.. it can be done in this day and age..10mtr blocks of lights of different coloured lights that move in unison with the speed of the mobile. Short priced favourites can kill a race and many punters just look on but more over bet more on the gallops and the dogs, we need to put value back into betting on the trots. We need to change things or we will perish if we don't make changes to the way we race.
Anyhow just some of my thoughts.