More Disclosure, More Engagement, More Statistics On One Horseplayer’s Wish List For 2021

As a new year begins, Harness Racing Update writer Bob Heyden penned a column with his 21 suggestions for racetracks and broadcasters to improve the experience for horseplayers, both those stuck at home during the pandemic and those at the track.

Although Heyden's ideas focus on harness racing, many of them could ring just as true to lovers of flat racing.

Like many in flat racing, he calls for more information disclosure to horseplayers — a better explanation of rules regarding entries, scratches, and carryovers, as well as more information during inquiries or disqualifications. He points out that while some tracks have begun providing verbal explanations or readings of a decision after it's rendered, players watching at a simulcast area are often unable to hear the audio on a track feed and could benefit from written text appearing on the screen.

More statistics to handicappers, such as the success rate of odds-on favorites or success of pace elimination favorites would also be appreciated, according to Heyden.

While some pundits have cited racing's relatively high median age of participation as a drawback, Heyden points out that it would serve tracks well to make their content more engaging to their established fans. Features on new faces or lookbacks to retired favorites in programs or on broadcasts would be well-received in his view.