Getting Racing Televised

We have an opportunity in harness racing right now. As most of you know, Jeff Gural has made arrangements so that it is possible to have The Meadowlands Pace and The Little Brown Jug televised on national TV via CBS Sports network.

The cost for us is $75,000.00. Sam McKee is looking after all the details of the project.This is a great opportunity to promote our sport to a wider audience and at a very reasonable price. We can showcase our sport at our new state of the art racetrack at The Meadowlands, and our greatest spectacle in harness racing at The Little Brown Jug.

Who benefits from showing these races on national TV? It's us, the participants in harness racing -- the owners, drivers, trainers, breeders, racetracks and everyone else involved in harness racing.

Showcasing these two races on national TV throughout the US and Canada has got to help us. It sure can't do any harm. I think this is a good investment for us and our future.

Standardbred Canada has provided this excellent forum and I would like to take advantage of it to reach out to everyone in our industry. I am proposing that anyone who agrees with and wants to support this initiative can pledge $500.00 to the project on this site. Of course any amount would be wonderful as a show of support. I am hoping we can raise this $75,000.00 in a hurry but you never know.

We will keep track of the pledges on this page as they come in so that everyone can follow how things are going. You can make your pledges in the comment section here and if you have any questions contact [email protected] or [email protected].

I made a few calls last night just to get the list started and the response was very encouraging.

John Campbell - $500
Jody Jamieson - $500
Adriano Sorella - $500
Bill O'Donnell - $500
Casie Coleman - $500
Murray Brown - $500
Myron Bell - $500
Jack Darling - $500
Bob McIntosh - $500

UPDATE: Cheques can be made out to and mailed to:

Meadowlands Racetrack TV Fund
1 Racetrack Drive
East Rutherford, NJ 07073


The views presented in Trot Blogs are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Standardbred Canada.

Comments

Too bad there is no "fan Support" donation via PP for 50$ or 100$ donations. It would all add up. I would love to donate to see it on TV. Just cannot afford 500$.

3 Brothers Stable 500 Richard Gutnick 500 Ray Schnittker 500

Bruce Trogdon 500 Brian Brown 250 Preferred Equine 500

Bruce Saunders 500 John Cancelliere 500 Al Libfeld 500

Stephen and Marilyn Gillard happy to pledge $500 - let's help ourselves!

Following a vote this morning by the National officers of the United States Harness Writers Association, we are pleased to pledge US$1,000 to Jack Darling's Grassroots television initiative. We applaud Jack's courage and ability to rally an industry around this worthwhile cause. The membership of USHWA is proud to count ourselves among those who step-up to the plate.

Ron and Gail McLellan R G McGroup Ltd. in for $1000.00 Great Idea Jack.

Thanks Jack for taking the bull by the horns. I would like to donate more but please put me (PineHorse Farms Ltd) in for $300.00.

Good idea, put me in for $1000.00.
I wish we could also start a grassroots attempt to get other big races on national TV. Put boxes in the racetracks for any size donations. Have a portion of the programs donated by the tracks. If we care to grow our business, we need to find ways to promote it. If we don't, we are on a fast tract to extinction.

From a former owner, still a fan, Arlene Medow (formerly Arlene Traub) $300. Best of luck with your efforts.

Tim Tetrick - $500
Linda Toscano - $500
Corey Callahan - $500
Steve Stewart - $500
Sugar Valley Farm - $500
Spring Haven Farm - $500

White Birch Farm is in for 3,000 dollars. Proud to be a part of this

Gregory Tarantino - $50
Big D - $500
John Fielding - $500
Ray Johnston - $500
Jim and Tracy Fielding - $500
Scott Zeron - $500

The results thus far show clearly that people will support a very focused promotional initiative like spotlighting our sport to a huge viewing audience. I will happily pledge 500.00. Stu McIntosh

Bill Odonnell received this email from Bill Weaver today. "Longtime since Valley Victory but I will throw in 5000.00 on his and your behalf for what you and he did for me. Great cause! Bill

Don and Brenda McNeil are in for $500 we also support the concept of using a small portion ofthe purse pool to promote thesport

Jerry Duford Stables & Joanne's Staking Service Inc. $500

Rob Key 500

Helene Gregory 100 Mark Harder 500 Paul MacDonell 500 Cam McKnight[Ballykeel Racing] 500 Teena Friebert[Bluegrass Staking] 500

Mike Keeling and Paula Wellwood are in for $500, great opportunity that should be supported by all participants.

Blair Corbeil is in for $500.00 adn challenges all owners to help this worthy cause.

Great idea, Jack!
Keith Waples - $500
Karen Hauver - $500

Dr. John Hennessey - $500
Tony Alagna - $500
Marv Chantler - $500

Jonas and Christine Czernyson are in for $500, as are our owner Tom Dillon $500 and Scott Dillon $500...we can do this!

I'm in for $500, and I'll also put $500 in on behalf of my staff.
Tony O'Sullivan

Kevin Harvey $500
The most powerful weapon on Earth is the Human Soul on Fire, Great Idea!

I'm putting my money where my mouth is:

On behalf of the horses, Knightstalker Stable will donate:

Battle Call $100

In A Craze $100

Urgently $100

Wu Long $100

(In memory of) Cimeronmachden $100

count me and my partner Jeff Rabinowitz in for $250

I wish we could do something like vote for a 1/4 of 1% fee on all purses, claims and auction sales to go towards advertising and televising our great sport

we need to all step it up and do something and the status quo is not an option anymore

Mark Weaver Family:
Mark - $500
Dee (wife) - $500
Sydney (son) - $500
Jordan (son) - $500
$2000 total

I'm in for $500 as well and I'm proud to be part of this group. Thanks Jack!

Dave and Mary Lemon will gladly pledge $500.00.

Twinbrook Farms will also donate $500!!!
Great job Jack!!

Rob & Tammy

Mark Horner - $500
James Witherite - $75
Steve Calhoun -$500
Larry Todd - $1000
Bert Smith - $500

Jerry Glantz, in for $500.
Gastrotec [Tri-Star Equine} also in for $500. Great idea Jack!!

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