Sporting history is riddled with unexplained hardships and supernatural theories.
Form the curse of the Billy goat to the Socceroos' witch-doctor hex, storytellers and bush poets have perpetuated sport’s most painful narratives by assigning them divine, dramatic causes.
Right now, harness racing harbours one such narrative.
Let’s call it the damnation of the Inter Dominion.
Tonight, Australasia’s most significant standardbred series will begin at Tabcorp Park Menangle.
And when it does, the rollercoaster ride it’s endured in recent decades will continue.
Make no mistake, there was a time when the ‘Inters’ inspired wildly dedicated devotion in this part of the world.
And they should.
This is, after all, harness racing’s answer to Le Mans.
With four rounds of racing staged over just two weeks, no series of any code provides a greater test of trainer, horse and pilot.
Sadly, a vast array of variables has hampered the ID’s post-modern progress.
Funding flaws, waning interest, economic conservatism, and partisan politics have all played their role.
Despite this, we just won’t let it go.
And neither we should.
Let’s make one thing clear, Harness Racing New South Wales and the New South Wales Harness Racing Club have a mighty fight ahead over the next fortnight, and it’s a fight they didn’t pick.
In no way are they responsible for this pervasive pandemic which cruelled the ID last year and has limited interest this time around.
From the outside looking in, they’ve toiled bravely to deliver an Inter Dominion series befitting that name’s staggering stature.
Now, just as we saw on Breeders Crown night last weekend, the racing’s all that matters.
On paper, both the pacing and trotting ID’s lack depth and favourites should dominate round one.
But one blowout, one spectacular time or contest in Sydney this evening, could spark this series to life.
And if NSW can keep the candle burning with all their mighty efforts, don’t be surprised to see the seemingly cursed Inter Dominion soon return to its former grandiose glory.
Unlike its thoroughbred equivalent, harness racing rarely hibernates in meaningful ways.
Where the gallops swell and rise for spring and autumn then recede, the trots are always rolling with a feature race most weeks.
Finally, however, between the Breeders Crown and Vicbred Super Series, Victoria takes a type of breather, at least for tonight.
There’ll still be eight races staged at Melton, of course, including the Westburn Grant Free For All, but things will be a touch more tepid than on most weekends.
The highlight race, like the card in its entirety, looks tough to unravel.
There’s been very solid support for the Kasey Kent-trained Major Roll, who has firmed from $13 to $3.90 and deserves a breakthrough triumph after close-up finishes in three, recent country cups.
The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.