June is the month of Father’s Day (Happy Father’s Day to all Dads) and two-year-olds! I would like to thank all the old claimers who put on a show during the winter months -- but now it's time to watch babies race. I always like to see where the first two-year-old will surface. Remember that maiden-breaking performance from Dali last year? It got all the backstretches and training centres buzzing. Good luck to all colt trainers – let’s see what you’ve got!
This month, there are three people I would like to congratulate: John Peletier (who celebrated his first lifetime driving victory at Western Fair Raceway), Chris Roberts (who was appointed Director of Racing Operations for Ontario by Great Canadian Gaming), and Dave Palone. Now when baseball started in April and someone went 11 for 14 in a hitting spree over two or three games, you would have thought that was amazing. After all, that's a .786 average. But something even more amazing happened in standardbred racing -- on April 21, Dave Palone drove 11 winners in 14 drives at the Meadows. Imagine that!
As mentioned last month, the O’Brien/Cam Fella Awards Committee met. In 2007, if you recall, the Board of Directors approved two media awards for 2008 and onward -- outstanding written work and outstanding video, film or broadcast. They'll be given for the first time at the O’Brien Awards in January 2009. If you're interested in more information, you can contact Kathy Wade Vlaar or Darryl Kaplan at Standardbred Canada. You can also watch the SC website for the release of further details.
Do we have the will? Or do we need it?
I would like to devote most of my column this month to April's Standardbred Wagering Conference. Hosted by SC in Montreal, the conference was attended by delegates from all over the world -- from racetrack officials, regulators, and customers to horsemen and casino operators. In short, all the industry's movers and shakers were in the same room, working to address concerns about the rapid and significant decline in standardbred wagering. SC was given a strong mandate, by all industry stakeholders, to take this discussion to the next level and ensure an action plan -- SWAP (Standardbred Wagering Action Plan) -- is immediately implemented.
So what did we hear? As an industry, we need to:
• Create bigger betting pools. But, on the other hand, we heard that the big gamblers don’t spend much time or money chasing big multi-leg pick pools.
• Schedule the timing of races from several different tracks across the country to maximize betting pools with national TV exposure.
• Provide more information for the customer with regard to past performance lines, paddock interviews, trip notes, etc. Our first-time customers, however, tend to tell us the current racing program is already too confusing.
• Create better working relations between horsemen and track operators.
• Promote ‘marquee’ race days and quality customer service.
• Seek new regulations to increase the distribution of the Canadian racing product.
• Create a Canadian betting exchange or join existing betting exchanges to increase the pool size and offer new types of wagering.
• Experiment with product development, like distance races and larger fields.
• Create a Canadian or North American multi-leg wager.
• Offer lower takeouts for high volume customers.
I should add a final comment about one particular breakfast keynote speaker. This prominent casino operator said outright that casino owners are completely uninterested in horse or greyhound racing -- that they are only involved because they are legislated to do so!
At least we got bacon and eggs out of it.
Now what?
Five committees have been developed and will be quickly filled with interested industry stakeholders to adopt the following tasks:
1. Research: will embark on a mission to clarify exactly who the customer is/was across the country, and also identify the potential new customer.
2. Distribution: find new models to grow the distribution of Canadian harness racing betting products to the public.
3. National Pools & Product Development: investigate a comprehensive model aimed at creating wagering opportunities that utilize multiple Canadian racetracks.
4. Canadian Betting Exchange: explore the potential of offering Canadian standardbred wagering on a betting exchange platform.
5. Racing Product Development: examine the on-track product and explore areas of potential product development on a national scale.
I know you are sitting there saying: yeah … whatever.
If you are, please contact myself or your SC Director and help us!! This industry has reached a critical juncture in its history. We need your assistance to affect change. Don't just stand by and watch Canadian harness racing fade away.
Until next month, let's get out to the track and enjoy the two and three-year-old colts and fillies as they strut their stuff.