| Watching the trotters or pacers is a long-standing | | | | bigger? In a word: casinos. Many track have been |
| American tradition. After all, the Standardbred is | | | | bought out by casinos or, in some cases, the |
| called America's horse. It was used to pull wagons | | | | casinos have gotten state approval by subsidizing |
| and get people around almost from the time the | | | | the state's harness industry with purses and |
| first settlers came to this country from Europe. | | | | improvements to the track facilities. |
| But, today, the Standardbred has a new job: | | | | This has happened in Maine and also in other |
| providing the thrills of harness racing. | | | | states. Horse owners are happy to have casinos |
| Some say that harness racing is much easier to | | | | down the road, if it will put a new roof on the |
| bet on, because the horses run more true to | | | | barn, raise the purses substantially and attract |
| form. In other words, the horse that looks like it | | | | people who might bet on the ponies while they're |
| should win, does win. That may be true most of | | | | at the casino complex. |
| the time, but sometimes, longshots still come in or | | | | Is this good for harness racing? The jury is still |
| horses that should win don't seem to put forth | | | | out on that. One thing that HAS resulted from |
| very much effort. | | | | this though, is what I said about drivers being less |
| That's when the crowd starts to mutter that the | | | | willing to throw races. Who in their right mind |
| drivers are throwing the race and letting someone | | | | would risk a large purse by pulling something |
| win, because they've all bet on him, instead of on | | | | crooked. It was much different when the purses |
| the favorite. Have you ever seen this happen? I | | | | were smaller. |
| have, but I couldn't say for certain that the driver | | | | So, yes, there probably is still some rannygazoo |
| was trying not to win. Things happen. | | | | once in awhile. People are human and when there's |
| One thing I do know is that - at many harness | | | | big money involved, you always have someone |
| tracks - just about all of the drivers are trying as | | | | who thinks they can pull a fast one. But on the |
| hard as they can to win, because of the | | | | whole, I think the harness races are a lot cleaner |
| increased purse money. Why are the purses | | | | than they were just a few years ago. |