Friday, December 15, 2017 Yonkers does away with the passing lane But is it the right move to drive handle? by Brett Sturman In today?s HRU Stakes scheduling, the secret to life and curing tie-up page 9 Bird Parker beat Bold Eagle page 11 Mike Woebkenberg: A non-stop promotional idea machine page 12 Devious Man joins Blue Chip stallion roster page 14 One group to oversee racing in Ontario page 14 Little joins Big M broadcast crew page 16 Cherry buy into Heston Blue Chip page 17 Cammie Haughton made news yesterday on the harness racing podcast Post Time with Mike and Mike, when he announced that that Yonkers will be doing away with its homestretch passing lane. Pending approval from the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC), the change is scheduled to take effect when Yonkers begins its 2018 racing season on Sunday, Jan. 7. Haughton was recently appointed last month as the director of racing at Yonkers (full story here), and one of his primary responsibilities is to improve handle. Haughton said Thursday regarding the removal of the passing lane, ?We?re going back to basics? These guys (drivers) are going to pull. They?re not going to sit in there and wait for the passing lane and go on through.? The decision to get rid of the passing lane at Yonkers seems to be more well received than not in the usual social media circles. But the question becomes, will doing away with the passing lane improve the Yonkers product and in turn, the tracks handle? By any objective account, the style of racing at Yonkers leaves much to be desired. This, despite attracting the top Harness Racing Update | 1 | December 15, 2017 SEND OUT A TO THANK THOSE WHO HELPED MAKE YOUR 2017 SEASON A SUCCESS! HRU Holiday Issue: December 22 The perfect issue to wish friends, family, clients, and fellow horsemen & women all the best for a happy holiday and a successful New Year! Booking Deadline: December 11 Offering full, half, and one-quarter page ad spots. BOOK YOUR AD SPACE TODAY! CALL OR EMAIL WILMA: [email protected] • (519) 476-5571 www.harnessracingupdate.com Harness Racing Update overnight horses in the country and having a driver colony become more aggressive. The thought process goes that led by Brian Sears and George Brennan. In his comments, it is without having the luxury to sit on the rail to wait for the obvious Haughton believes that the merry-go-round style of passing lane to arrive, drivers will now need to make earlier racing that Yonkers has become accustomed to, will change decisions to pull their horses and race forward on the with the passing lane no longer an option. outside, instead of taking a wait and see approach on the I?m admittedly going to be in the minority in this decision, inside. but I don?t believe removing the passing lane will have the It's not how I see it, however. While everyone laments the effect its intended to. Coming from someone who style of racing at Yonkers, just about the same people consistently bets into the Yonkers product, I think it may commend the aggressive and sometimes wild style of racing actually make handle even worse. at Northfield Park ? another half-mile harness track with a Let?s start by looking at what brought about the passing passing lane. Why the disparity in racing styles between lane in harness racing to begin with. Bettors became tired of tracks with similar make-ups? seeing their horses full of pace or trot not be able to go The answer in my estimation is the inflated purses that anywhere in the stretch because of being locked in with no drivers race for nightly at Yonkers (although Northfield now chance of going anywhere. has slots, its purses are still dwarfed by that of Yonkers). Why To accommodate for this, tracks began adding passing would drivers possibly want to be extra aggressive at lanes to give more horses chances at winning. Horses that Yonkers if racing in a N/W4 condition for $14,000 when they would have been locked in through the stretch otherwise, can continue to collect checks for finishing second through some would now have openings and a chance to compete. fifth and then do the same thing week after week in the Simply put, the passing lane was put into place to give as same class. many horses as possible at least a fighting chance to win. Would removing a passing lane and forcing a driver to go Those such as Haughton who believe removing the first-over more than usual change that motivation? The rich passing lane will help racing, insist that drivers will now purses that can be attained with minimal effort is by far the Harness Racing Update | 2 | December 15, 2017 Harness Racing Update larger reason for the type of racing that takes place at In terms of improving handle, are there some harness Yonkers compared to having a passing lane. racing purists left who may come back and bet Yonkers To me, the fundamental question is why shouldn?t as many because the removal of the passing lane? For arguments horses be given chances to win? If a horse is buried three or sake, let?s say yes. But what about those ?precious four deep on the rail but is overloaded, he should be given a millennials? that everyone is trying to cater to these days. chance to race somewhere in the stretch. The first bet a new young 20-something person makes in the sport where they see their horse never had a chance will There seems to be this thought that there?s no strategy in quickly be their last bet. Plus from a visual standpoint, it?s half-mile racing with a passing lane, or that the pocket-sitter more appealing to see horses coming through the inside of wins every race. Both are far from true. the passing lane than seeing a bunch of horses boxed and With the passing lane going away at Yonkers, what we?re climbing on top of the horse in front of them. going to be left with is a year-round version of the Delaware The passing lane obviously isn?t the only thing Yonkers County Fair. Racing will be dominated even more now by management feels that can be changed, but that it?s post draw, and the post position of a horse will be of greater something that can at least help turn things around. I?ll be value than the ability of the horse itself. the first to admit if I have it all wrong and the removal of the Some feel that by forcing drivers hands earlier with no passing lane turns out to be a big hit, but I think bettors are passing lane, that races will become more unpredictable and going to want it re-instated eventually for the same reasons will lead to larger payouts. Is creating unpredictability really the passing lane came to exist in the first place. something that is going to inspire handicappers to bet more? And even if that were the case, why are the payouts at the Delaware County Fair always miniscule? It?s because those horses with inside posts are at an even more advantageous position, making things seem more predictable than ever. It all seems counter intuitive to me. Harness Racing Update | 3 | December 15, 2017 Harness Racing Update Diary of a Career Year, Part 1 of 2 Trainer Brian Brown recounts his fantastic ? and sometimes trying ? year campaigning top pacers Downbytheseaside, Fear The Dragon and Blazin Britches. by Jay Wolf This has been a year of dreams for Delaware, OH-based trainer Brian Brown. He was the conditioner of trio of top the sport?s best pacers ? Downbytheseaside (1:48.3f; $2,179,558), Fear The Dragon (1:48.4s; $1,578,547) and Blazin Britches (1:48.4; $540,424). Brown is a finalist for the Dan Patch Award for Trainer of the Year and should make the banquet stage with at least one divisional honoree. The following is part one of a two-part look back at a Claus Andersen memorable, yet rollercoaster year for Brown and his three Ohio-based trainer Brian Brown was in the spotlight for all of 2017. top trainees. Part two will be published on Sunday, Dec. 17. don?t think she went real fast, but she was so impressive. Even Tuesday, March 21 ? Spring Garden Ranch back then, we were saying we weren?t sure she couldn?t beat Brian Brown sends out 21 horses during the seven race Dragon and Seaside at that point.? qualifying session at the DeLeon Springs, FL training center. Wednesday, April 19 ? Miami Valley Raceway Blazin Britches wins the first race with Shane Bowermaster in the bike. Fear The Dragon won the 4th race with Hall of Downbytheseaside makes his first three-year-old Famer, David Miller in the sulky. Both sophomores are timed qualifying start, his first on Lasix. Chris Page steered the son in 1:57.1. of Somebeachsomewhere to a 7 ¾ length win in 1:53.1. ?(Dragon) was very good. Britches qualified that day and I ?We raced him clear up into mid-November. Dragon quit right Harness Racing Update | 4 | December 15, 2017 Harness Racing Update Dave Landry Downbytheseaside and Brown preparing for the Pepsi North America Cup. after Lexington. (Downbytheseaside) was turned out over a month longer than Dragon. So (Fear The Dragon) got a later start.