This is the Stallion Issue of TROT, which highlights the many fine choices our breeders have to select from to find that perfect match for their mares. Of course there are many factors that go into that decision; pedigree, race performance, geography, conformation and price being among them. Everyone has the same goal, to find that magic combination to produce the next O’Brien winner and stakes champion.
While the basics of the breeding industry have remained the same, the information we have available to us today, to make informed decisions, is far more accessible and extensive than ever before. Changes in technology have brought the world to us, and we can access resources more quickly than any time in our history.
Standardbred Canada’s TrackIt program is certainly a wonderful resource to assist our breeders, and is used extensively by our membership. There are also some other private sector resources available, one of which was launched on Prince Edward Island last week. Retired local engineer Norman Hall and his son Charles started a pedigree matching program about fifteen years ago, and recently introduced a new website.
Norman has been a long time industry volunteer, and has served on the Board of the P.E.I. Colt Stakes for four decades. He is indicative of the tremendous volunteer base we are so fortunate to have in our industry. Across all aspects of North American harness racing, we have thousands of people who give of their time to assist on local track committees, as well as breeders and horse ownership groups. Our business is stronger because of these folks, who contribute time, money, knowledge, and experience to the cause of their fellow horsepeople.
Mr. Hall also played a significant in the establishment of the Prince Edward Island Harness Racing Industry Association. This group represents all aspects of the harness racing industry to government, and has been fundamental to the growth experienced in our province over the past ten years. The construction of two new facilities, including grandstands, racetrack surfaces, and stabling areas were only possible through positive relationships built with all levels of government. Purse pools have grown, race dates added, and optimism expanded due to all horsepeople working on a similar plan and vision for the future.
That is the choice we as horsepeople have to make, to choose to work together, and always speak with a unified voice. Today governments are inundated like never before, with seemingly ever increasing interests competing for always scarce resources.
Today’s reality and the reality of tomorrow is that our industry is about partnerships. Racing is competing with thousands of options within the gaming market. We can either look backward and long for the way things used to be, or look forward to tomorrow and build the partnerships with government that will be essential to sustain the industry into the future.
Lets choose to unify, and define our own future.