Could Harness Racing replace NASCAR ?

[caddy]

Nascar's fan base diminishes annually.  Mostly, they say - because they don't have fan friendly driving stars.  Is this an opportunity for Harness Racing to become a legit sport?  Can it fill that slot that NASCAR is losing  ?  

[MR.DALRAE]

Not a chinamans chance

[The Exporter]

Nascar's fan base diminishes annually.  Mostly, they say - because they don't have fan friendly driving stars.  Is this an opportunity for Harness Racing to become a legit sport?  Can it fill that slot that NASCAR is losing  ?  

What planet do you live on??

[Powerful Patricks Ghost]

Are you straight up retarded?

[Refusedtopace]

Absolutely, only a matter of time before the 75,000 fans at Dover attend the races. Should only take a couple years.

[hoosierboy]

Not a chinamans chance

Agree

[Rabbi Of Racing]

Not a chinamans chance

China Dragon,Jim Mayes

[bigwrench]

[qu 73cv.2ote author=senor dick link=topic=61370.msg947854#msg947854 date=1532648013]
Would making Maxine Waters and April Ryan grand marshals help draw fans
[/quote]

[Rabbi Of Racing]

Mad Max and  Ass April would like to tax us all at 90%,pure scumbags

[caddy]

why you be so mean  ?  just givin' you a good idea  ?   

[Powerful Patricks Ghost]

why you be so mean  ?  just givin' you a good idea  ?   

You're talking about replacing one of the most popular sports with one that almost no one has ever heard of?

[MsO]

Well, ummm, while The Donald’s presidential bid and continuing fan base support, despite his questionable, traitorous performance of late is proof there’s no shortage of inbred NASCAR fans, caddy wasn’t wrong…

There’s this thing now called Google; perhaps you’ve all heard of it?

http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nascar/news/166585-nascar-restructuring-communications-department

“The move comes at a time when the sport has been the subject of a number of national news stories focusing on declines in attendance, sponsorship and TV ratings. Privately, team executives have wished in recent years that NASCAR would take a more proactive stance in its messaging around some of these areas.
Under the new structure, the communications department will be separated into seven divisions: competition, stakeholder relations, digital and social media, brand/consumer marketing, corporate marketing/licensing, NASCAR Media Group/entertainment, and public affairs/crisis communication. Multiple hires will be made in each of those divisions. “

What NASCAR has always done differently is invest in and conduct, both their own promotions and public relations in order to respond to consumers of its product and make themselves the pinnacle of inbred sports that they are. You cannot argue that Harness doesn’t do the same and never has, missing opportunities at every turn. Has there ever been a horseman’s group that insisted on it in contract negotiations with a track, or otherwise productively undertaken it themselves? I’m going to go way out on a limb and say no, more than likely not.

[spaheaven]

Dale Earnhardt used to own horses with Warrington at Dover...then he died...

[Nostrathomas]

Nascar's fan base diminishes annually.  Mostly, they say - because they don't have fan friendly driving stars.  Is this an opportunity for Harness Racing to become a legit sport?  Can it fill that slot that NASCAR is losing  ?  

I have given your idea some thought and, irrespective of the beating you've taken for it so far on here - I agree with you.
Racing's heyday was a time when it was virtually the only way to partake of legal wagering, and it had to be done in person, and with the advent of night racing, it was the perfect storm of gambling, sport, and a night out. It was only natural that tracks would be concentrated in metropolitan areas like New York, Chicago, Detroit, etc.
Fast forward to today. Life, and our surroundings, have evolved to the point that unlimited societal, entertainment, and online wagering options abound to the point of over saturation, resulting in a jaded, over stimulated populace, particularly in cities and their surrounds.
The natural answer then, would be to take the game to areas that are slower, simpler, populated by people more apt to respond as if things were thirty years behind, I.E., the so called "red states" - the soul of NASCAR nation. A harness track in New York is like a bowling alley in Studio 54. A new, gleaming, harness track in west Texas, or Alabama? Who knows. But horses, country music, maybe heats of midget dirt track racing inside the mile harness oval during a break between races would pass for some excitement and a night out for the less sophisticated. The simulcast signal could still be sent out to capture what remains of the traditional wagering base in the areas that have long since stopped attending races in person.

[caddy]

what a joy to spot a couple creative thinkers that, tho understandably not convinced, paused long enough to consider a prospect.  Honestly ??  why in the world hasn't the OHHA picked up a phone and called Fox Sports Ohio - they just might be giddy to have an option to Texas Hold Em on every damned break.  BUT, They're not gonna accept second grade w/ winners circle grooms that look like homeless bums, and amateurish operation.  The promotion requires sharp silks, w/ national advertisers  ,  a decent mascot horse walking around passing out premiums of value -- and, a fan club for the popular drivers w/ t-shirts / special sections and dinner w/ their driver.  Fact of the matter is Fox Sports is most desperate on holiday programming  -  if the tracks would create a real swell holiday T-Give and Christmas/New Year power race - the casino would benefit and fox might kick in for a purse that might just be beyond your Santa claus dreams.  HOWEVER, the go-power to get the ball rolling sadly rests in the hands of staid, old-timers that are locked in the 1970 Lebanon Raceway mentality of 'that's the way we've always done it'.