When is the last time you saw ________ at a harness track?

[TheGrimReaper]

Lewiston Raceway and Scarborough back when one had the Presidents Cup and the other had Falcon Seelster Race.  Anybody that can answer these questions is on social security and that’s why the sport is basically dead.  Used to be some fine women, regular types and the carny horse folks all mixed together.  Now, only hard core losers and owners at the track, not worth the drive. Harness died in the late 80’s, it will disappear basically this decade.

[mtnskipper]

The Meadowland's destroyed harness racing in this country back in 1976. They drained 25% of every tracks best horses, drivers, trainers and especially owners to that complex. It took a few years to totally bring it down but the old local tracks never recovered.

[Jazzman]

moutain skipper right on point meadowlands ruined racing local trainers lost their best horses to the swamp and it spiraled down from there

[carl baldwin]

C.  freshly cooked food in grandstand

Late 1980s early 1990s at Sportsman's Park.

[caddy]

This is actually a very good topic. I would say three deep and the track apron families with kids and everybody number two and you also don’t see a lot of young people at the track tracks for the most part these days are all empty. The  stands are empty. The  aprons are empty everybody’s  choosen  to stay home. The Internet has killed attendance at the track.

Every bets threw their phones or computers

Just my opinion.

Time between races has killed people actually staying around to stay and watch the races. Nobody wants to stay at a racetrack for four hours to watch 10 races with this new age. The attention span is about 10 minutes.

used to be jam-packed at the old Lebanon raceway in Ohio every race night in the 80's.  cigar smoke hanging in the air - bottle beer corral shoulder to shoulder - little kids just outside the doors runnin' round actin' like horses  -  AND, the upstair, glass emcl grandstand was upscale swanky.

[caddy]

This is actually a very good topic. I would say three deep and the track apron families with kids and everybody number two and you also don’t see a lot of young people at the track tracks for the most part these days are all empty. The  stands are empty. The  aprons are empty everybody’s  choosen  to stay home. The Internet has killed attendance at the track.

Every bets threw their phones or computers

Just my opinion.

Time between races has killed people actually staying around to stay and watch the races. Nobody wants to stay at a racetrack for four hours to watch 10 races with this new age. The attention span is about 10 minutes.

watch the thoroughbred tracks and celebs, luminaries, executive type, politicians mingle w/ the crowd.

When was the last time that you saw Taylor Swift at a harness track ?

When was the last time that you saw John Lennon at a harness track ?

When was the last time that you saw Derek Jeter at a harness track ?

When was the last time that you saw Joe Biden at a harness track  ?

[Bernie Madoff]

watch the thoroughbred tracks and celebs, luminaries, executive type, politicians mingle w/ the crowd.

When was the last time that you saw Taylor Swift at a harness track ?

When was the last time that you saw John Lennon at a harness track ?

When was the last time that you saw Derek Jeter at a harness track ?

When was the last time that you saw Joe Biden at a harness track  ?

Why on earth does that matter?

[FirstUpFrom8Hole]

I used to see art schlichter at Scioto and Lebanon a lot. Always wanted a tip.

[dinkadoo]

I used to see art schlichter at Scioto and Lebanon a lot. Always wanted a tip.

I used to run bets for him as a kid at Lebanon... He would sit in the pickup truck in the barn area right by the guard shack that Donnie would sell soda's and snacks out of .,,,,

Years later when he was really in trouble he wanted to right me a check for cash at beulah park.   ummm Nope

[caddy]

like it or not.  you get some glitter it becomes an event.  do you, in a million years, believe harness racing looks like a legit sport? 

[Brown jug]

the meadowlands didn't destroy racing , it made harness racing, brought it out of fair tracks to the big time
went from racing for cooler blankets and ribbons to millions of dollars
 the problem was there was no one in place smart enough to take advantage and grow the sport both from an owner and fan base , no long term strategic thinking, just short term regional bias

[Brown jug]

greenwod raceway
 there was nothing better than a saturday afternoon there in the 1980's

[Harness racer]

the meadowlands didn't destroy racing , it made harness racing, brought it out of fair tracks to the big time
went from racing for cooler blankets and ribbons to millions of dollars
 the problem was there was no one in place smart enough to take advantage and grow the sport both from an owner and fan base , no long term strategic thinking, just short term regional bias

Exactly.  I don't know anyone under 40 with any serious interest in investing in harness racing.

[jupiter]

Name a track that even needs an apron, has decent food in the grandstand. If ya say Pocono, they just sit outside and drink, then they go back to the casino and have fun. No fun anymore, boring show.

[caddy]

Name a track that even needs an apron, has decent food in the grandstand. If ya say Pocono, they just sit outside and drink, then they go back to the casino and have fun. No fun anymore, boring show.

Miami Valley Gaming
N of Cincy  /  S of Dayton
Restaurants a short walk from trackside.  Now - their concession trackside is amateurish
BUT, they have The Wizard, World's Greatest Handclapper  <>  and, he packs 'em in