Robin Schadt and odds on to buy balmoral and have racing $6Million

[The Exporter]

While I appreciate your enthusiasm XYZ, we are talking apples and oranges here. The only commonality between the blue collar and the blue blood is the horse. Every other component of the industry is very if not completely different.
 Other than the Meadowlands, there is no harness racing track with a hint of the future. It seems all decisions are made to reduce the bleeding now with no forethought.
It is not an issue of money. As a matter of fact, many have to much money for such a poor and uninteresting product.
 It would be like NY state giving $180 million a year to dog racing. Where would dog racing be?     

[Mailbox Money]

Unfortunately for the Chicago horsemen the home town racing is dead just like many other places. For a private entity to buy ,build and maintain a metro racing facility would be financial suicide! Sometimes you have to cut bait and move on .

[Harness racer]

Unfortunately for the Chicago horsemen the home town racing is dead just like many other places. For a private entity to buy ,build and maintain a metro racing facility would be financial suicide! Sometimes you have to cut bait and move on .

This entire thread is made up for the purpose of rubbing it in Ill. harness racing's face.  Everyone knows it's never coming back to what it was.  No one in their right mind with no matter how much money in the bank would invest in Ill. harness racing!

[The Exporter]

You don't build anything today without government incentives. Even if your project doesn't them. 

[Generation XYZ]

While I appreciate your enthusiasm XYZ, we are talking apples and oranges here. The only commonality between the blue collar and the blue blood is the horse. Every other component of the industry is very if not completely different.
 Other than the Meadowlands, there is no harness racing track with a hint of the future. It seems all decisions are made to reduce the bleeding now with no forethought.
It is not an issue of money. As a matter of fact, many have to much money for such a poor and uninteresting product.
 It would be like NY state giving $180 million a year to dog racing. Where would dog racing be?   

The "Blue Collar Cousin" was taken from a Greg Peck statement once, You remember Greg the Trainer of Muscle Hill, who produced blue blood horses.  My case in point, a guy that trained Muscle Hill doesn't even champion the sport he derived an income from. The sport needs trainers dressed professionally, and staffers the same way. its appalling some night's to see these people meeting the horse off the track. Thoroughbreds entirely different for most part.

[The Exporter]

It would be nice, XYZ. There is no doubt about the significant decorum in the 2 sports. Many times I have watched a broadcast and look to hide under my coffee table when Leo Wolf, owner of some outstanding horses is accepting the winners presentation in the same overalls he had on every week.
Or, when on I think an live ESPN broadcast, the #1 driver in the country's response to a question is ..."no shit"! 
 Harness racing has always been the red headed step child to Thoroughbred racing. Changing that dynamic will never happen. It has gone even more south in recent years.
 
 This time of year, Saratoga Race Course and all it's history and grandeur is in town for 45 days. On a stakes weeked card, 45,000 fans at the track is typical. Years ago, every night Saratoga harness raced during this season, they would get a couple thousand more in their attendance. Now, a couple dozen and they would never admit it to their friends. 
 Harness racing has it's roots in farm families racing their steads and buggies home after church for bragging rights. Thoroughbred racing is Blue bloods, racing their prized steads for big money and prestige in the highest circles of society. 150 years later, not much has changed outside the inner circle of harness racing.
Today, ask a stranger about harness racing. Few will know what you are talking about. Thoses that due will say, ..."aren't those buggy races all fixed"?

We have made some strides. No longer is Leo Wolf wearing his overalls to the winners circle. You still can get a glance of Jeff Gural wearing what looks like a tablecloth from a Little Italy cafe. Changing the perception of harness racing would take a collaborative effort.  Harness rarely agrees on anything.

[Generation XYZ]

We have made some strides. No longer is Leo Wolf wearing his overalls to the winners circle. You still can get a glance of Jeff Gural wearing what looks like a tablecloth from a Little Italy cafe. Changing the perception of harness racing would take a collaborative effort.  Harness rarely agrees on anything.

Exporter, your quote above says it all.  When you think about the roots of harness racing, made popular by the Vanderbilts, Astors etc. One would think that the storied history would continue forward much like TB's did. But it is a collaborative effort. Especially when a track owner of the premier event track, dresses like he's the guy running the concession stand.  Until that changes the glory days of harness racing, are better revered in Sweden and France.

[LAW AND ORDER]

This entire thread is made up for the purpose of rubbing it in Ill. harness racing's face.  Everyone knows it's never coming back to what it was.  No one in their right mind with no matter how much money in the bank would invest in Ill. harness racing!

I AGREE BUT IF YOU KNOW THE HISTORY OF ODDS ON DANA YOU MIGHT THINK DIFFERENTLY. HE HAS NEVER TRIED TO MAKE MONEY IN THE HARNESS BUSINESS. DANA NEEDED TAX WRITE OFFS SO HE JUST BLOWS MILLIONS ON PURPOSE. WHY DO YOU THINK HE HIRED ROBIN AND WAS GIVING HER 200-300K HORSES TO TRAIN? SHE WAS ONLY A GROOM AND RECEPTIONIST IN THE RACE OFFICE. THE GUY WANTS TO LOSE MONEY TO OFFSET HIS OFFSHORE GAINS AND GET THE MONEY INTO THE USA WITHOUT BEING NOTICED. I DONT KNOW IF HE'LL GO THIS FAR BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT HE ALWAYS TRIED TO LOSE MONEY WHEN HE RACED HORSES IN CHICAGO THRU ROBIN. THEY WOULD BUY HORSES FOR $150K AND PUTTING THEM IN $20-30K CLAIMERS A MONTH OR TWO LATER. ASK KENNY RUCKER. ROBIN WAS THE ONE WHO PUT RUCK ON THE MAP BECAUSE HE KEPT TAKING EVERY SINGLE HORSE SHE HAD IN CLAIMERS FOR ODDSON DANA AND OFTEN TIMES END UP WINNING THE OPEN WITH 100-200K ON THEIR CARD AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THE ENTIRE ODDS ON OPERATION WAS ALWAYS SET-UP TO LOSE MONEY ON PURPOSE