The Canadian Sportsman

Sometimes I wish I could be in two places at once. This coming weekend I’d love to be in both DuQuoin, IL to watch Muscle Hill in the World Trotting Derby and then back at Mohawk Racetrack in time to watch the best two-year-olds around fight for the million-dollar Metro, one of our country’s premier races. Every year, a handful of the top drivers pull off this daily double thanks to the wonders of a private charter flight. However, those of us without an idling Cessna waiting to jet us off to our next destination have to say yes to one and leave the other behind.

Clearly, this isn’t exactly a Sophie’s Choice dilemma, especially since both races will be available via simulcast, but what about the double-booking of non-televised industry events that beg for the live attendance of harness racing participants, fans and media?

Recently, the high-concept Adrenaline festival, held at Hiawatha Horse Park, had a Sunday afternoon conflict with the established and crowd-pleasing Legends Day at Clinton Raceway, the small track’s signature event.

Given that Adrenaline stretched over the course of the weekend, it was certainly possible that highly-motivated individuals could make an appearance at both events. And, arguably, Adrenaline and Legends Day are targeting very different demographics, but why risk splitting the pool of people (no matter how small) who may be intrigued by, and inclined to attend, both events?

Similarly, the inaugural Equi-Challenge, an event in support of the Ontario Veterinary College and its Equine Sports Medicine program, was held last Thursday. The event featured a light-hearted cross-discipline competition between some of Canada’s top riders and drivers — think Jody Jamieson in a saddle; Ian Millar in a cart.

Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?

Many in our industry wouldn’t know, because the Equi-Challenge was held the same evening as the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. I’m sure attendance at the Hall of Fame didn’t suffer because of Equi-Challenge, but I’m not so sure that some of those attendees wouldn’t have checked out the Challenge had it been scheduled on a different date.

Every single one of these events requires so much planning and effort by its organizing committees and volunteers that it’s a shame that they don’t always receive our undivided attention.

I don’t envy the people who schedule these events and I realize that there are not enough desirable dates or summer weekends on the calendar to support so many big races and industry events, but we can’t afford to keep eating off each other’s plates or hitting on someone else’s girlfriend or whatever lame analogy you prefer.

In slang, hitting on your friend’s girl is called ‘mowing his lawn.’ Our lawn isn’t big enough for more than one gardener.

In honour of Somebeachsomewhere's induction in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, we thought you might have some fun with this photo of trainer Brent MacGrath (in yellow) and the rest of The Beach's winning crew in the Pepsi North America Cup winner's circle.

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