One of my pet peeves about harness racing

[LVGaryD]

I can think of very little in harness racing that has totally deteriorated with time more than a neat, orderly post parade. 30years ago, everyone connected with the horse would be fined if the parade was not neat and in order.

Today the post parades completely lack professionalism. As they said long ago, we are the show. make it look professional!

[Maniac]

Gary,
 To many catch drivers that dont give a s--t except for the money

[LVGaryD]

Gary,
 To many catch drivers that dont give a s--t except for the money

Pretty certain they would give a shit if they got fined $100 every time they were not in a tight post parade. Eb Mahar would roll over in his grave if he saw today's post parades! Even at lowly Northfield 40+ years ago, he fined the drivers unless they had a very good reason for not having a tight post parade. Then he went to the Meadowlands in 1976 and I remember him screaming at the drivers there too.

And if anyone had white pants that were not freshly laundered….   

[The Skipper]

Oh yeah ! This will save harness racing   

[LVGaryD]

Oh yeah ! This will save harness racing   

I never said it would save harness racing, but it's the little things that (when combined) make a big difference. All I know is the sport had huge crowds back when the participants showed more class.

[The Skipper]

I never said it would save harness racing, but it's the little things that (when combined) make a big difference. All I know is the sport had huge crowds back when the participants showed more class.

The sport had huge crowds because there were no casinos and no simulcasting, they also wore suits

and ties probably up until the 60's, now that really pisses me off that they stopped that ! 

[MichiganDale]

The sport had huge crowds because there were no casinos and no simulcasting, they also wore suits

and ties probably up until the 60's, now that really pisses me off that they stopped that ! 

Going to the races years ago was a Event!   Everybody dressed up, just check many of the old old photos!   Even the old (RIP) Washington Park Racetrack in Homewood, Illinois required jackets and ties for the men to dine in the clubhouse....
anyway, back to old Gary's comments - yes, today's post parades are certainly not what they used to be.  Sloppy!

[careless hal]

The sport had huge crowds because there were no casinos and no simulcasting, they also wore suits

and ties probably up until the 60's, now that really pisses me off that they stopped that ! 

Tony Maurello who recently passed away at 90 something(Mr. Super Night) always wore a suit to the race track,
even when I would see him on a Wed. Night.  I now only wear a suit to weddings and funerals.  I refuse to dine anywhere that requires a jacket.  Never was worth the price the times I did.Last time I wore a suit to the race track was 2 years ago.  I had to go to the wake of one of my race track buddies before going to the track.   When I got there I took the jacket and tie off!

[The Giss]

I remember the first  time I had to parade one of my own at Northfield because my driver (Keith Harran) was warming one up. Bill Leary and Keith gave me a ten minute speech on exactly where I was allowed to turn after parading and how close to stay to the horse in front of me or that I would get fined. I did exactly what they told me, but I was the only one who did it. Everyone else did something else. I get back to the paddock and immediately get called upstairs. Leary is up there with the paddock judge, who shall remain nameless) and I am scared to death. Nobody says a word then they both bust out laughing. I was a 20 year old kid, but man was I pissed.
But I agree, the parade is part of the show and it is easy enough to get right.
Gary, do you remember guys (Artie Bier and others) getting fined for taking off their helmets during the National Anthem while warming up?

[LVGaryD]

I remember the first  time I had to parade one of my own at Northfield because my driver (Keith Harran) was warming one up. Bill Leary and Keith gave me a ten minute speech on exactly where I was allowed to turn after parading and how close to stay to the horse in front of me or that I would get fined. I did exactly what they told me, but I was the only one who did it. Everyone else did something else. I get back to the paddock and immediately get called upstairs. Leary is up there with the paddock judge, who shall remain nameless) and I am scared to death. Nobody says a word then they both bust out laughing. I was a 20 year old kid, but man was I pissed.
But I agree, the parade is part of the show and it is easy enough to get right.
Gary, do you remember guys (Artie Bier and others) getting fined for taking off their helmets during the National Anthem while warming up?

I don't remember that, but I always took mine off when it was playing if I happened to be warming up a horse.

[Jeremy]

This is why I stopped going to the track.

[Lockjaw]

I think the extra long zero-to-post contributes to the sloppiness between races.  It builds in an uncertainty that leads to carelessness.  As a bettor, the post parade used to be a wake-up call for me to get serious about making sure I didn't get shut out. 

[MichiganDale]

Me, I like to dress up....sometimes drives folks nuts but it is what it is.....final year of racing at Great Lakes Downs (November 2007) I was at a party and left early to get to the track and fire away on some harness races from Northfield and Balmoral.....wore a tuxedo.   I swear some folks thought I owned the place and I must say I felt perfectly comfortable......at our annual Memorial Race at Balmoral I've been known to have a sport coat and tie on....last year I scrapped the tie and opted for a purple shirt (in honor of Purple Heart) and a sportcoat....I did have the tie on for awhile but eventually removed it.  Different strokes for different folks, that's all.   

[badolpuddytat]

Gary, do you remember guys (Artie Bier and others) getting fined for taking off their helmets during the National Anthem while warming up?

Yeah I remember it!! I didn't understand it. God I love those Old times. I remember Potte Time being in the first. I lived in Garbage Hts. Err Garfield Hts at the time. I wanted to make it there cause I knew he would be a price. Only thing my sister used my car to go to the grocery store. I had about 15 minutes to make it there. Well I was driving 90 MPH and got off of the free-way. The part of Oakwood I went the speed limit because I knew they had speed traps. Then after I passed the traps I drove 60 MPH through NFLD and made it with about 3 min to post. Potte Time went off at 7-1 and won easy.  ( after I found out Potte Time's little secret and that was to play with his tail)