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M On the Trot I By MORRIE KURLANSKY Gypsys Create Serious Problem Must Eliminate Inferior Horses Schooling Races Could Be Answer MAYWOOD PARK, Maywood, 111., May 7. — It isnt often youll hear a horseman state hed race for nothing if it would help solve a situation that threatens the lifeline of harness racing in Illinois. But the continuous influx of inferior stock, so-called gypsys of the sulky world, has created a serious problem for pari-mutuel tracks in this state. Without two-buck Johnnie and Jennie, the gentlemans sport can easily fall right back into the county fair stages. In order to attract patrons and give them confidence in the sport, something must be done to eliminate the poor caliber of horses matriculating into this area. Granted the same problems are encountered throughout the nation, but other states do something about gaining confidence of their patrons and, accordingly, have grown with leaps and bounds. Off hand, it would be rather difficult to put your finger on the exact weakness, but if you would attempt to cure the . "weakness" from infancy, at least it would be a step in the right direction. One phase where elimination of "bad | mannered," poor-gaited horses would help I by leaps and bounds would be when "green" " horses first come to the races. No matter I how many miles the "green" pacer or trotter has had, and how many passable work- ] out miles he has shown, no truer test of whether a trainer or owner is wasting his time is by actual racing. However, to subject the betting public to the initial test is utterly unfair. If you want to build patronage, you must give the public confi- j dence that a "contest" is expected from all participants. However, it cannot be done | by putting before the public "green" horses I without any performance to judge their I respective abilities. I i Now, getting back to "racing for noth- ing" and taking the right road to build- i ing this profession rightfully into "Americas fastest growing sport, the "pro" harness trainer should welcome schooling races. They dont have to be at night, they could be staged during the forenoon in place of schooling sessions, where the starter simply attempts to give the "green" and bad-mannered performers added confidence behind the gate. From these schooling races the race secretary can select those "green" horses who have shown promise and would give an honest account of themselves in betting engagements. And, until these "green" horses show they are ready to "go to the races," they should continue to participate in these events. Here also would be an indication for owners and trainers alike to determine whether or not their charges are worth preparing for pari-mutuel meetings. It would be cheaper in the long run for all parties concerned to learn early that a horse is ready for this type of racing than to suffer through a season of heartaches. In the East, they stage "non - betting" races for "green" horses and none graduate until theyve proven themselves. They also race for purses. However, since the business in the Midwest never has reached the financial stage where management could invest in the further development of the sport, horsemen would be more than happy to race for nothing. There are those "gypsys" who probably wouldnt go for this, since it would spell the "death warrant" in pari-mutuel racing. But the "pro" is more than interested in the future of the sport. Take the example of a "green" pacer who worked before the timers in 2 : 14 the other morning. Off that workout, this horse could race in his class, which is the lowest 30 Class, and on the basis of this workout and the times in which "green" horses have been racing, would go post-ward as odds-on choice. However, the professional trainer of this horse isnt sure that his horse warrants that betting consideration. He doesnt know how his horse wiU act among other horses and how he would react to the starting gate. In fact, he could easily wind up in the centerfield, for sheer lack of experience. Now, this trainer would be more than happy to enter a schooling race. He wants to give his horse confidence and only untU he has this would this trainer attempt to start the horse in a betting event. Thats the way the "professional" trainer thinks at this harness track. Curb the "illness" at the core and then, and only then, it will blossom into its rightful place in the sporting world. There is no rule in the United States Trotting Association, governing body of this sport, that states you can bar a horse before ever starting a race. Every horse, whether a two-year-old or even an "aged" first-time starter, has a right to go to the races. This alone has race secretaries stymied. But if horsemen have the welfare of the sport at heart, they, and they alone, can solve the ever-pressing situation of taking to the races bad-mannered or ill-gaited performers At present, its in their hands, and until they attempt to do something about it, har-1 ness racing in this area will stagnate.
