by Bob Carson

Editor’s Note: The USTA website is pleased to present freelance writer Bob Carson and his popular “Outside the Box” features. This monthly series is a menu of outlandish proposals presented with a wink — but the purpose behind them is serious. The views contained in this column are that of the author alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions or views of the United States Trotting Association.

Bob Carson

Many of us involved in harness racing have idiosyncrasies or preferences.

Some buyers will not purchase a yearling with three white feet or a roman nose. Some gamblers will not wager on races offered by certain racetracks. Some owners prefer the stakes game while others play the claiming game. Some trainers head south for winter training or prefer specific types of racing equipment. Some breeders prefer syndicated stallions to private ownership. I have a few eccentricities. I rarely wager on pacers or on races not presented in high definition.

Most of the time, our unusual inclinations do not hurt the sport. Alas, neither do they help. Let me suggest a harness racing quirk of mine that might be of use as we try to bolster our ranks. When scanning the weekly racing entries, I seek out amateur (or almost amateur) races that are on the wagering card. For some unknown psychological reasons, races such as The Billing Series, or Trotting Clubs, or Ladies Driver Challenge Races will get my attention and my wagering money. Even a race with a heavy dose of unknown drivers will tweak my interest.

From my point of view, our regular driving stars are, of course, a classy group. The top professional drivers work very hard and can drive a racehorse. My amateur affliction is in no way a knock on them. However, perhaps because my wagering is recreational, the unpredictability of amateur racing is welcome and these racing events have a slightly different vibe.

During a post parade with the usual group of great professional drivers we have watched a thousand times, there is little drama. When watching a post parade of amateur drivers, thoughts are more varied and some of us can’t help wanting to know each personal story. We feel a kindred spirit in harness racing. The new faces and names in the sulky inspire wonder. Who is this person? What is their real job? How did they learn to drive a trotting horse? How did they find the courage to get involved? Should I try it? Would I find friendships and camaraderie?

To my mind, it seems logical that these races offer a chance of growth.

Recently, an amateur race at the Meadowlands had a full field. I found the race in my weekly hunt for places to play my disposable income. I noted the date, wagered my 20 dollars, lost as usual, but enjoyed the competition. After the race, some random thoughts and questions flashed through my offbeat brain.

• It is very possible that more friends, relatives, and co-workers, what in the cyber universe are referred to as unique viewers, viewed the amateur drivers than all the regular drivers combined. There were new viewers who watched their acquaintance on phones and laptops. Some probably ventured to the racetrack to watch their friends drive. New is good.

• What if instead of one amateur race tonight, there were four, each with different drivers. The new viewing eyes would quadruple. There would be a multiplier effect.

• If a multiplier effect takes place, the wonders of social media offer a chance to send sparks of interest to the great masses of people who never heard of our sport. If you have a “link” to a friend in the amateur ranks, it will be easier to step into our world.

• Increasing participation for amateurs should be more than just a sideline for our sport. Grabbing these people, using the magic of our horses and getting them actively involved should be a solid business model. Amateur drivers should not just be encouraged and supported, they should be actively recruited.

• One of the problems in entering the amateur racing circuit is the expense, especially for travel. What if people with the inclination asked others to help support their passion with ideas like crowdfunding.

• Create an environment where drivers could enter the driving arena inexpensively by “renting” horses on the grounds for supervised teaching and practice. Later, they may want to own their horse.

• Getting a young base helps build a strong foundation. Parents pay small fortunes to send youngsters to baseball camps, tennis circuits and traveling soccer leagues. After basic training and reaching the legal age, harness races for these youngsters could be on the gambling menu.

• Some of the newly constructed training centers are beautiful. Somehow, some way, luring potential, new drivers for lessons and practice could be a viable business model. Retired or unemployed professionals (and horses) could seek customers. This could be a new employment niche. A business could get off the ground with merely a handful of driving hopefuls.

• Work groups from large corporations could form driving clubs. For example, you work in a massive hospital with 5,000 employees faced daily with life and death pressures. One day you see a note on the daily hospital blog — “Trotting Club forming, all welcome, no experience necessary, no horse ownership necessary, only nine miles from campus. Relax and learn to drive a horse. Email for details.”

The idea is simple. Our sport is one of the rare cases where amateurs should have a place near the professionals. Amateur drivers could and should be a large part of our menu. A wave of amateurs could help us grow. A concerted effort to encourage any wannabe driver to find horses, sulkies, instructors and racetracks is good for our future, perhaps vital to our future.

This link will take you to the various trotting clubs. The site states that more than 500 people participate nationally. Imagine if the number was 5,000 or 50,000. Imagine if every state with a racetrack or training facility made harvesting amateur drivers a business model.

More amateurs racing would help our sport.

Bet on it.

I do.