Never let anyone tell you Harness Races are not fixed

[pirate]

Horseracing in general is on life support. Someday the casinos are going to say "What the hell are we subsidizing horseracing for...let them stand on their own" That will be a disaaster for the horses

[aggieshawn]

everything is fixed. the stock market makes horse racing look like a bunch on pansies. who drives the biggest cars stock brokers or horseman. all bets are trackable now. there is winning and not being known.

[pirate]

fiveteamer,

They need racing. In Ontario for the most part the slots are tied into horse tracks. through slot revenue is why the purses for Ontario are still reasonable. If the horses go so do the slots. The governement would not allow that. That's why they have been getting tough on guys like Bill Robinson etc who have been caught numerous times giving "Juice" to their horses. If the government didn't care they'd let the cheaters cheat and that would end the racing. Doping of horses is a far bigger problem than any "fix" in a race.

Of course drivers know whose hurt, whose recovered, whose worked out well. Certain trainers "always" have a horse ready after a layoff, and some well, even if it's ready won't win because they want to give him a trip round first. You can shorten the field down by at least half if you know anything about horses.

All true...However, one of the most potent doping "juices" is a natural simple electrolyte...baking soda...it helps neutralize lactic acid buildup and allows horses muscles to perform longer without tying up...its beneficial for the horse, but officials see it as a chance for form reversal

[MadTiger]

I usta' run around

Hahaha! I caught that.

http://www.ustrotting.com/ = USTA

[Boner_18]

Horseracing in general is on life support. Someday the casinos are going to say "What the hell are we subsidizing horseracing for...let them stand on their own" That will be a disaaster for the horses

I agree to an extent. I can't ever get any of my buddies to go to Belmont on a Saturday afternoon and you can take a train there and it is BYOB. It's sad. However, there is still a decently powerful horse racing lobby in Washington in addition to classic aspects of racing that will never die (i.e. Triple Crown, Saratoga meet).

[DogPlayer]

The takeout from track pools is large enough to keep them going... The amount of money that comes through any company is staggering... Track takeouts are usually around 5% (not total takeout just what the track keeps) then add in the $2 betters who are betting their retirement and SS checks every week the $2 guys don't usually receive any incentive on there bets... The reason the tracks are empty is most players now bet online or through call centers... But thanks to parimutuel wagering the tracks are still getting their piece of the action...

(2008) handle Saratoga (including bets made through simulcast partners):
Year: $513,837,237 (yes that is $513.8 million a year bet at one track)
Day: $14,273,257 (yes that is $14.2 million a day)


Anyways I doubt the industry is going anywhere any time soon...