Is the Passing Lane a Negative?

[Fredsixties]

Being an avid harness racing fan and participant for almost 50 years, I sometimes wonder about the advent of the passing lane and think about its effect on racing as we knew it. It was, as we all know, put in place to give the inside horses the advantage of being able to get clear in the lane instead of being boxed in, in theory making the racing more competitive.
That was a great concept, but after seeing it in action for many years now, my opinion is that it actually has had a negative effect on racing, especially so on the 1/2 mile tracks. Anyone who was around before the advent of the passing lane can recall having the best horse in the race crying out for racing room in the stretch only to be locked in by a horse that went "first over" and either won the race, or behind behind a dead front-runner and not being able to get out from behind. While the passing lane has been able to reduce these scenarios significantly, the negative is that it has taken away the aggressiveness of the drivers in order to get or maintain position in the race. Often, before the passing lane the horse sitting third or fourth would pull to the outside and go 'without cover' so as not to be boxed in. Others would follow and you'd have an outside flow. This is something that rarely happens these days as the first four usually sit in. Sometimes one of them will pull down the backstretch on the 1/2 mile track but in many cases the race has already been decided because of a relatively slow first half mile because of no challenges. In the past you'd have horses going "3 wide" into the final turn especially if the horse without cover was not moving up. This almost never happens anymore with everyone waiting for the top of the stretch. Drivers now hope to make one run coming down the stretch, but again because of race tactics and lack of aggressiveness many races have been decided long before the field hits the top of the stretch. The real answer to this is to take away the passing lane away, go back to the straight lane in the stretch and force the drivers to actually make decisions about where to position their horses and when to make their moves. This will lead to more competitive racing and more excitement for the fans.

[LVGaryD]

Give me the days of 34 second second quarters over the passing lane any day of the week. I do prefer a 5/8 mile track to all other tracks, but the passing lane sucks.

[The Skipper]

Give me the days of 34 second second quarters over the passing lane any day of the week. I do prefer a 5/8 mile track to all other tracks, but the passing lane sucks.

It don't bother me on a 1/2 mile track, but I think they suck anyway 

[CyberChamp]

I think it makes the half-miler a bit more competitive, but I think it has no place on a 5/8ths or larger track.

[chicagojazz]

speaking of passing lane:
http://xwebapp.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/templates/article.aspx?articleid=68630&zoneid=113

How stupid is that?

[dinkadoo]

not sure where the outctry came from for the Mgmt to put passing lane in ?

Those that I know that bet there, haven't begged for it

Those that I know that race there weren't begging for it

Those on message boards haven't been begging for it.

[LVGaryD]

speaking of passing lane:
http://xwebapp.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/templates/article.aspx?articleid=68630&zoneid=113

How stupid is that?

I just do not get it. On track handle has dropped significantly since the advent of the passing lane, so they put another one in...on a mile track?
 

[Jeremy]

I think it should be around 50' shorter at Northfield.  That opinion may change depending on if a horse I bet needed more room or a horse I bet got caught.

[careless hal]

I love the passing lane on any size tracks.  May be those who have inside info on tracks that don't have it like that, but as far as I am concerned it just adds an element of fairness to the game.  We all know of plenty of instances ,even in some big races, were a driver lets a horse get off the rail and make a move and other times were the driver will whip the horse senseless to keep somebody trapped on the rail.  If you like that,  bless you, I'll pass on it.

[Fredsixties]

The biggest problem with the passing lane is that it has taken away the aggressiveness of the drivers and has altered the racing strategies. They all would rather sit it and wait for the passing lane rather than have to think and put their horses in position to win.

[careless hal]

I don't agree with that statement at all.  It changes the thinking but does not eliminate the need for it or the need to be aggressive.  You can't always wait for the passing lane to make a move because the horse in front of you may die on the lead, result you get shuffled to the back.  So, you have to make an earlier move.  If you get parked out and hang, then you moved too soon.  There are all kind of judgment calls to be made.  I think the good drivers will excel more on tracks with a passing lane because you don't sit behind a 99-1 shot waiting for the open stretch, you pass him while you can.

[pezz97]

It is ridiculous that Hoosier put it in. Makes for less movement which leads to boring racing. IMO, there shouldn't be a passing lane on any size track especially a mile track. Just stupid.. Force the drivers to make moves.

[tonyb147]

Of all the larger tracks (7/8 or 1 mile) Hoosier seemed like the track least likely to see one get locked-in down the lane. At least to me. At both WEG tracks it seems to happen a lot more often.

not sure where the outctry came from for the Mgmt to put passing lane in ?

Those that I know that bet there, haven't begged for it

Those that I know that race there weren't begging for it

Those on message boards haven't been begging for it.

Agree - totally unexpected that they would do this.

[cashman]

Of all the larger tracks (7/8 or 1 mile) Hoosier seemed like the track least likely to see one get locked-in down the lane. At least to me. At both WEG tracks it seems to happen a lot more often.

Agree - totally unexpected that they would do this.

 

[Sunday Creed]

Takes a lot of planning out of the race. Won some locking the best horse in the 2 hole. Can win the race with a dead horse.