WOODEN RACE BIKES SHOULD BE MADE COMPULSORY.

[bond]

Harness racing over the last 10 years has become more boring thanks to lack of authorities/judges doing their job and racing becoming less attractive to betting with at least 2-3 auto toss horses in every race.

The metal race bikes and offset wheels have contributed to this.

Something that could be done quickly to help improve this situation-is going with wooden race bikes.

Believe it or not this gives more horses equal chances-with the horses in front not having the advantage they do now.

Outside horses will have more of a shot--just compare results from 10-20 years ago and you will see what I mean.

Going fast miles is nice-but doesnt improve the handle or make racing more exciting-in fact it does the opposite.

Yonkers could just invest in buying 10 bikes-and everyone races in the same bike--bingo-instant better racing.

Im totally convinced this is the right move after watching racing for the last 20 years and seeing what is happening today-total BS.

Please go to the wooden bikes.

[The Exporter]

Makes a lot of sense.  . Of course some horses will be now at a disadvantage being forced to use a bike that may hinder their performance. That will be tough to swallow. 

[viking55]

Have to get a lot more than 10 bikes. Horses come in all shapes and sizes. Trotters might need a bigger bike. But not a bad idea. But very old school and I doubt todays culture would go for it. It's always MORE, MORE, MORE.   

[The Exporter]

Agreed, Viking. Maybe just more restrictions on what make a bike approved or not.

[Homer Report]

 SO NICE OF BOND TO STEAL BOB PANDOOFUS IDEA AND PASS IT OFF AS HIS OWN. SHOWS THERE IS ANOTHER IDIOT IN HARNESS RACING STUCK IN 1970.

[Fatboy]

KNOW WHAT WORKS FOR YOUR HORSE AND FORGET ABOUT IT

[MR.DALRAE]

If not they can call you fatty

[Fatboy]

If not they can call you fatty

GOD MORNING EATING GURU

[MR.DALRAE]

Thank you ,,, as we speak I’m ordering lunch

[GrandcircuitGuru]

Great idea, then we can go back to tie down harness, billiard cue head poles and soft caps.

[helpplease]

One of the many reasons that wooden bikes went the way of the wagon wheel was because when there was an accident & horses went down in a pileup the wooden shafts would splinter & inpail either horses & or drivers. Not a good idea to my mind. jmho

[The Exporter]

Good point. safety is paramount. The material a bike is made from is not the point. The point being an approved material that does not give one an advantage over another.

[helpplease]

Good point. safety is paramount. The material a bike is made from is not the point. The point being an approved material that does not give one an advantage over another.

If they all have a theoretically slower bike on then what's the point?

[helpplease]

Maybe not wood but definitely go back to old design. It would definitely help by slowing down the gassed horses, as front end is winning way too much.

Are you saying the non gassed horse would not get slowed down using theoretically slower bikes?

[quitpullinmychain]

With A I taking over why not program robots to drive horses.It would be a giant chess match & they could actually think.They wouldn't be giving holes or going dead.