DRF HARNESS HOME DIGITAL HARNESS EYE HARNESS PPS DRF BETS ENTRIES ARCHIVE THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021 Drivers playing too much “Mr. Nice Guy” Can stricter enforcement of the “no tuck” rule lead NEW PLAYERS to a more desirable racing product for the betting public? in by this son of Rock N Roll Heaven, few will DOUBLE YOUR watch the first turn of action and see how FIRST DEPOSIT JAYWALKING little Dunn had to do to find improved posi- tion in the early stages despite starting from UP TO $250 By Jay Bergman an outside post. Before we get too carried away, it would @BergmanJay be very easy for any driver on the track last JOIN NOW Saturday to indicate the numerous reasons one or two drivers might let the odds-on favor- About this time every year many folks set ite in front of him. I’ve heard countless times aside a moment to ask what they can do better. how advantageous it is to find cover behind The sense that January brings about the need the betting favorite. Despite that ringing Inside this issue to do things a bit differently than December endorsement by some drivers, from a betting has been a tradition for centuries. From a perspective I’d much rather see a horse that harness racing perspective, I take note in leaves from the outside actually have to Darin Zoccali: Higher guaranteed not necessarily what I can do to effect change commit to going to the front from the start. wagers produce higher handle, Page 5 but perhaps what drivers might wish to do to What Dunn was able to accomplish on Satur- improve the product. day has routinely been the courtesy other top Derick Giwner: It may be chilly, but There’s been discussion far and wide of the drivers have received when leaving from the winter is the best time to race, Page 7 need to rid the sport of cheaters who have outside posts at The Meadowlands and other forever imbalanced the playing field for some. tracks. Cassar hopes to break into the 2021 It is a noble cause mind you, but one in and of Competition on the racetrack can only be Meadowlands win column, Page 9 itself that changes very little on the racetrack. accomplished if the betting public feels confi- If the idea of eliminating nefarious types was dence that drivers are all in actual battle Jay Bergman: Giving Gimpanzee some truly game-changing it is certainly hard to against one another. The first turn of a race much-deserved credit, Page 10 define the last nine months of a racing prod- where horses are allowed to improve posi- uct looking fundamentally different than the tion without struggling, offers the pretense On The Backstretch: Profile of owner previous years. of a collective effort and not the feeling that Bill Donovan, Page 12 While there are many factors that have every driver is working vigorously to secure changed the racing canvas over the years to his position and make it harder on a rival to Retirement seems likely for its current iteration, there is a sense from improve theirs. Wiggle It Jiggleit, Page 14 what I’m seeing with regularity that little The late Joe DeFrank, the original coordi- $100K Pick 5 Saturday at Big M, Page 14 effort is being made to tighten the rules on nator of the racing product at The Meadow- drivers who regularly allow favored positions lands, was a regular at the track at night and Industry Headlines, Page 15 on the racetrack. watched over each race with a fine-toothed Look no further back than Saturday Janu- comb. One of DeFrank’s biggest gripes was Comments? Questions? ary 2, where the latest equine phenom from when he would watch drivers race half-in Email the Editor [email protected] Down Under by the name of Let It Ride N half-out down the backstretch. The strategy managed to improve his position in the early was effective when a driver could stall the TO ENSURE PROPER delivery stages for Dexter Dunn without much concern outer flow while waiting to move or perhaps OF THE NEWSLETTER VIA for those who had drawn inside of him in this waiting for the horse he was following to “Handicap” race. advance without cover. DeFrank correctly EMAIL, ADD [email protected]. While those who write about the sport will BHSCo.-Winter Entries_Layout 1 1/4/2021 11:46 AM Page 1 com to your contact LIST undoubtedly focus on the incredible mile put CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 ACCEPTING ENTRIES ENTER ONLINE NOW www.bloodedhorse.com Entries will close around mid-January 2021. JERRY HAWS P.O. 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As we expand our sales division, Diamond Creek Phone: 717-638-7100 looks forward to earning [email protected] your business. www.DiamondCreekFarm.com LISA PHOTO Let It Ride N uncorked a 1:48 1/5 winning mile on January 2 at The Meadowlands and is undefeated since coming to the United States. Jockeys they are cutthroat and lodge objections while our guys just CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 seem to not want to rock the boat.” Gural could be on to something as all it would take is one big-name recognized this strategy may have been beneficial to one person but driver getting banned for a few cards to perhaps make others notice was counterproductive to allowing all 10 horses to have a reasonable that the new “no-tuck” policy was something to take seriously. chance to win the race. There were multiple occasions this past Satur- It was great to ring in the New Year with impressive betting figures day night at the Meadowlands where the outer flow was hampered by at The Meadowlands. Even more inspirational was the appearance of one or two horses moving to the outside but not proceeding to chal- Let It Ride N as a potential high-class star in 2021. What’s important lenge the leader. to remember from both of these stories is how the sport can’t live 52 Many of my generation bemoan the fact that “closers” no longer have weeks-a-year off of a great betting night or one star-quality perfor- the same chance of winning races as they once did over the mile track. mance. In order to sustain viability, the racing product needs to be Needless to say, it’s hard for the clock to be turned back far enough to maintained at a high level each and every racing day. Carryovers recreate scenarios popular in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Still, to have certainly proven to attract additional money, with sharp play- suggest the sport is not capable of finding answers as to how to make ers recognizing how it neutralizes takeout. However, regular players the product less biased from a speed-dominant standpoint is to put your who look to find angles to bet on should really be the main focus for head in the sand and suggest there are no remedies. all. The regulars keep the game alive and it’s their everyday money For his part, Meadowlands President Jeff Gural says he has tried that churns and helps to fund a track’s purse structure. multiple times to get the drivers at his track to change their regular It’s obviously early in 2021 and hopefully the first taste of quality routine, but the habits of the driving colony have been difficult to racing will inspire greater handle. The Meadowlands historically has break. enjoyed great success with its winter schedule. With many fans still “For the first few years, I would meet with the drivers along with home-bound there is every reason to believe this winter’s product can the judges. I even had John Campbell with me and we showed videos produce its best handle in a long time. of old races when you had the (Meadowlands) ‘shuffle’. The judges Here’s hoping that the New Year can usher in an effort to keep the would make a speech about enforcing both rules and maybe the first holes closed on the first turn and keep traffic moving on the back- one or two weekends you would see a difference and then it would go stretch, with rubberneckers not getting in the way of a free-flowing back. Brian Sears was first person fined and he left for Yonkers,” said second tier. Gural. “I think it is hopeless unless the judges are going to enforce the On a personal note, I would like to thank all of those who wished me rules, although I was thinking of telling [drivers] we would enforce it well on election into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame’s Communica- ourselves and tell them to take the weekend off. When you watch the tors wing. It is truly an honor to be grouped with the sports’ legends.