Is Marty Monkhouser harness racing’s last hero?

You’ve gotten in all probability by no means heard of Marty Monkhouser.
Marty is a veteran warfare hero who has been in so many conflicts that it’s wonderful he’s survived all of them and nonetheless going sturdy on the age of someplace between 50 and 60…he actually gained’t discuss it!
He’s competed with these a lot, a lot youthful and proved superior to them on many events.
By the way in which, Mary Monkhouser has an “A” after his title and, sure, he’s a horse,
Marty got here to the USA from Australia some years again and by no means actually garnered any headlines. He was kinda shy about that—perhaps a ‘whinny” or two—however, nonetheless, he’s a hero in these eyes and will get the headline on this Mane Attraction.
Marty Monkhouser A can solely admit to being 15 years previous and his racing profession might be over now that he’s gotten inside $70 of the quantity allotted for earnings at his age in beginner occasions at The Meadowlands.
Marty gained his final begin in 1:52.2, closing out his profession with a :27 ultimate quarter for driver Victoria Stratton, on behalf of the VIP Web Secure, the Stratton Secure and coach Cory Stratton.
The final time Marty Monkhouser A gained in 1:52.2 was many moons in the past—in truth, 1,026 moons in the past—September 13, 2021.
He’s gained 5 instances this semester.
Marty was sensible, too…He gained 30 instances or so at Yonkers, the overwhelming majority on or near the highest on their half-miler. He gained a bunch of instances at Pocono Downs, the overwhelming majority of these from off-the-pace.
He additionally charmed the winner’s circle at Monticello (his first success within the USA), Tioga Downs, Grand River up north of the border, Flamboro, The Meadows and Rosecroft.
With 61 profession wins and $765,757 in lifetime earnings, Marty Monkhouser A resides amongst a dying breed in our sport…so far as sturdiness is worried.
Marty Monkhouser A and driver Victoria Stratton
Approach again when, as late on the early 1950’s, there have been many horses that raced of their “teenagers” and a handful or two of their 20’s…like Abax at age 26, Baldwin at 24, Ada Image being 23…
After which there’s Lord Sherbrooke who, at age 21, completed forward of his five-year-old son, Lord Sherbrooke, Jr. in a race.
Man Volo was 20 and began 73 instances compiling a 13-16-12 scorecard and $1,540.26, a median of $21.09 per begin.
Speak about sturdiness…
Shirley Bellini was 20 when he made 33 begins—successful $678.75.
Doc B Grattan and Dizzy Dean had been additionally energetic at 20, as was the mare, Highland Princess.
In all probability THE definitive story of sturdiness was the 14-year-old Tru Single G, beginning 107 instances whereas posting a report of 30-31-15, good for $2,875.36—$26.87 per begin. That was again within the early 1950’s.
The seven-year-old gelding Tonymite gained 45 instances in 107 begins that very same 12 months and $2,296.93—-that’s $21.46 per begin.
However “instances” have modified.
In a randomly chosen variety of tracks over a latest weekend protecting 176 races, protecting 1,382 entrants, the findings are beginning to reveal that the necessity for velocity is starting to take a toll on the entry packing containers like the start of a waning moon—slowly however absolutely.
There have been two 15-year-olds within the combine (each in beginner races) with one being at The Meadowlands and the opposite at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
In in a single day races, there have been two 14-year-olds, three 13-year-olds, 5 12-year-olds, 24 11-year-olds and 43 10-year-olds within the field.
That equals 77 entrants 10-years-old and up…about 5 1/2% of the racing inhabitants from these random dates chosen.
Add 67 nine-year-olds and 75-eight-year-olds to the combo and the proportion is elevated solely to fifteen.7%.
The breeders have targeting two-year-olds and three-year-olds with a stake or two for four-year-olds.
With velocity starting threatening to take a chew out of a standardbred’s profession, breeders can have achieved their targets of velocity and future yearling costs…
Their mentality is THE FUTURE IS NOW! The biggest house owners have the identical mentality…THE FUTURE IS NOW!
That’s comprehensible since legislatures and casinos have assured lofty purses—each overnights and stakes—THANK GOODNESS FOR THE HAMBLETONIAN SOCIETY!
But when desires aren’t fulfilled when the horse reaches past the primary few seasons, they’re dispensable with their future not sure and in jeopardy…and everyone knows that meaning.
There have been 824 horses aged two, three and 4 in motion on these randomly chosen racing dates—about 60 p.c.
That leaves 377 horses aged 5, six and 7 banging their hooves on the tracks in miles of 1:52 or quicker…and lots of will chew the mud as velocity takes its toll on their anatomy.
This leaves entry packing containers with an entry or two much less to fill races—identical to that aforementioned waning moon.
This hurts our “spectator sport” as a result of the bettor’s greenback—stretched so skinny now due to the variety of betting choices obtainable—turns into even weaker.
In a 10-horse subject, the median odds determine is 8 to 1, which means that if $2 was guess on each horse, the theoretical win value could be about $18,00…perhaps a tad extra if the “takeout id lower than 20 p.c.
That shrinks to five to 1 in an eight-horse subject and seven to 2 in a six-horse subject.
That’s why we’re shedding patrons!!!!!
Boy, oh boy, do we want extra Marty Monkhouser’s—with a A—IN A HURRY, say, 1:51 3/5!
Might The Horse Be With You
by John Berry, for Harnesslink

Source link