I once loved harness racing

[Misty meadows]

I went to the racetrack northfield park and Batavia and loved sitting outside to watch and bet the races. Then I did something stupid I got involved with the horses. I learned how to do a stall.  Put equipment on. Jog horses. Eventually getting trainer’s license. I bought horses   They did ok some good some bad. But now unfortunately us small timers are racing for 5th place money. We don’t have the synthetic EPO. Or the strong painkillers that takes a crippled horse to winners circle these days. It’s really a shame but it is ALL ABOUT THE DRUGS!!if you choose not to care if your horse dies next year and race like so many of us do we are basically racing for 5th place. I did one time love the game. Now I laugh as watch the same people greedy people win every week and nobody says anything. I look at suspensions every week. It doesn’t matter. Just use your brother your uncle your mother and when you served your days just put yourself down again without missing any action. It’s a real shame

[Yonkers1A]

I went to the racetrack northfield park and Batavia and loved sitting outside to watch and bet the races. Then I did something stupid I got involved with the horses. I learned how to do a stall.  Put equipment on. Jog horses. Eventually getting trainer’s license. I bought horses   They did ok some good some bad. But now unfortunately us small timers are racing for 5th place money. We don’t have the synthetic EPO. Or the strong painkillers that takes a crippled horse to winners circle these days. It’s really a shame but it is ALL ABOUT THE DRUGS!!if you choose not to care if your horse dies next year and race like so many of us do we are basically racing for 5th place. I did one time love the game. Now I laugh as watch the same people greedy people win every week and nobody says anything. I look at suspensions every week. It doesn’t matter. Just use your brother your uncle your mother and when you served your days just put yourself down again without missing any action. It’s a real shame

I understand 100%, I did the same , except never got my trainers license. The game is now a joke, waiting for its last breath.

[Misty meadows]

The sad part is everyone in harness racing. Owners. Grooms. Trainers. Drivers. Judges. Race secretaries. Starting car drivers. Spit box workers know it’s all about DRUGS!!!!!!! Period. Use them and your making money don’t and your lucky to get 5th place check.  This is why the top drivers drive for top drug users  what happens when top driver drives for a nobody. That’s right. 7th or 8th place. Before I knew anything about the business and was a spectator I loved harness racing

[seriously]

Too many of the humans involved have completely ruined this game.   

I enjoy listening to Larry Rolla's podcasts, but he epitomizes a harness participant. 

"I only did what I had to do.  Other people did worse.  Cheating was around long before I was."

The real world doesn't quite buy those excuses.  "Hell, murder has always existed, and I only killed one person, and that was because I didn't like the person.  Please let me off!"

[Birdfantammy]

It is really sad what Harness racing has become.  The drug use is disgusting and nothing is being done about it.  They get caught...no big deal.  They just put another name down on paper while they serve the so called "suspension".  It's a total joke!   Most of the tracks they aren't even racing!  It's a betting game.  That's all it is.  Not even fun to watch anymore honestly.  It's sad. 

[darnoldrocks]

Over the last 8 years, I've been a part owner of 7 two year olds.
I know my trainer very well and only buy with friends and family.
It's a hobby.   I'm not in it expecting to make money.   If I do, that's a bonus.
I've never owned more than 3 at the same time.
All 7 have qualified and made it to the track.
5 of 7 have actually broken their maiden.
I've never added it up, but because of one excellent horse, I'm close to even.

Because of the feeling that my horses are getting beaten by cheats, I will never purchase another horse.  I am part owner of a mare and am now prepared to only race her foals.
As I said, I didn't expect to make money, but I can't stand losing to horses that all of a sudden best their lifetime marks by 2 seconds.   It isn't the training regime or feed.

So I've gone from contributing at least 50k per year, down to a quarter of that.
I'd expect I'm not the only one that is on this path of reduced financial investment.

[Grandstand Handicapper]

I'm a lifer. Been in it since I was a teenager and worked my way through college. Betting has been my livelihood from day one. Then I began owning horses. But I have always been a fan, a bettor, and an owner (breeder). The sport is where it is today because everyone involved turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to the ever changing world. Think about the US steel industry (from the 60's to the 90's, and then through to today). The people in the industry (commercial breeding farms, for example) have also cannibalized it and themselves. The sport will not die. Neither will the industry. It will be reinvented and transformed, either by choice or by necessity. It will get worse before it gets better. The future will be less tracks, which will be part of a destination and entertainment offering, with casinos, poker, hospitality, retail, and other offerings for entertainment and the wagering dollar.

I don't think the new model will work nationwide. Under the current political landscape, it cannot work in CA. However, I think it will work in Toronto, NY, NJ, FL, and other places as well.

[LUCPARK]

  HOOSIERPARK HAS BECOME A FCKIN EMBARESSMENT WITH ALL THE EPO THEY ALLOW SOME BIG SHOT TRAINERS TO USE WITHOUT PUNISHMENT ,,

JOE MORRIS NEEDS TSTEP UP OR ALOT OF GOOD PEOPEL WILL BE WALKING..

DISGRACE  WHAT THAT TRTACK HAS TURNED INTO

[Trigger]

  HOOSIERPARK HAS BECOME A FCKIN EMBARESSMENT WITH ALL THE EPO THEY ALLOW SOME BIG SHOT TRAINERS TO USE WITHOUT PUNISHMENT ,,

JOE MORRIS NEEDS TSTEP UP OR ALOT OF GOOD PEOPEL WILL BE WALKING..

DISGRACE  WHAT THAT TRTACK HAS TURNED INTO

You actually sound in control as angry as you are.

That's tact, I lack it and have become more of a hot head.

With your financial commitment, loyalty to the brand, further always seeking more opportunities and always willing to put the cash down - I'm surprised you didn't tear that place into pieces.

I wish your babies develop into champions and stay healthy and you overcome this horror show, and your voice should be heard NOW there loud and clear so this fucking bullshit nightmare stops!

[SwankToliverA]

  HOOSIERPARK HAS BECOME A FCKIN EMBARESSMENT WITH ALL THE EPO THEY ALLOW SOME BIG SHOT TRAINERS TO USE WITHOUT PUNISHMENT ,,

JOE MORRIS NEEDS TSTEP UP OR ALOT OF GOOD PEOPEL WILL BE WALKING..

DISGRACE  WHAT THAT TRTACK HAS TURNED INTO

Sadly it will more than likely be the latter.

[kantseeback]

It's not a product you can bet on with all the juicing going on.

[MTP1972]

I know there's alot of juicing going on, how much, who knows for sure, but when you basically suspect who is or isn't doing it I think you can still bet if that's what you like to do. Even if I don't bet, I still like watching the big races. If you do bet and lose you shouldn't blame it on other horses being juiced, your horse was stiffed or whatever because no one forced you to bet.

[Pacer 2]

Cheaters in all sports and businesses eventually get caught and are weeded out.

[kantseeback]

Cheaters in all sports and businesses eventually get caught and are weeded out.

Name another game where cheating is so openly and well entrenched by many that accepts parimutuel wagers.

[Sakit]

My love for harness racing changed when I saw Brett Pelling tubing a horse with Mark Kemodel holding the twitch back in the 80’s. I thought then that this is not good. When I told the judges at the Meadowlands, they didn’t seem to care.