HANA. We’re Horseplayers, Just Like You

You are at Santa Anita. It’s busy. I doubt you’d get a seat. You get a complimentary program for the day, and walk to your favorite section. You are greeted by a friendly face. “Your seat is right there sir, just like always” the usher tells you. You sit down, enjoy the races. You are a card carrying member of the Santa Anita Customer Club. You’re a regular. You are a client. You get your seat – you get treated with respect. And you are ‘only’ a two dollar bettor.

Meanwhile you are at home in Illinois. You are playing at your favorite ADW. You are a serious player. Your ADW offers you a price break on datafiles. They offer some excellent handicapping information. They offer you a fair price. Their interface is second to none. And they offer every track in North America on the menu – harness or thoroughbred, it does not matter. You can play what you want, when you want, and you play in one account. You are treated with respect.

If you think that is a stretch, well we do too. But we think we can help by offering proactive and positive change. The business has failed us and we as players have failed the business by not having our voices heard. It is time to take a stand.

You may read gripes on the following pages. But you will not read abusive name-calling. We as horseplayers feel we are partners with tracks and horseman groups. Partners should not fight to get things done, they should work together to float all boats in the pari-mutuel ocean.

That doesn’t mean we can’t or won’t occasionally poke fun at ourselves and our opposition, but we’ll stay within the bounds of decency when we do. We’re involved here because we love the game and the tremendous enjoyment and satisfaction it's capable of generating. We take racing’s problems very seriously, but we’ll try not to take ourselves too seriously.

The site will be updated regularly with HANA news, opinions from some influential opinion makers in the game and much more. We have assembled a good list of writers to help. Views from both the professional and the small bettor will be promoted.

If you agree with us please join HANA. Thank you for reading. Please comment on any of the stories as we want to hear from you.

Enjoy the website and good luck at the windows.