With the prospect of freedom finally at our fingertips, reality meets reflection in sometimes subtle ways.
Naturally, we wonder whether post-pandemic life bears any resemblance to pre-pandemic life in all the ways that matter.
It doesn’t, and it won’t.
Even the Breeders Crown, Australasia’s most revered series of age-based standardbred racing, isn't what it was.
Tonight, that series reaches its climax for 2021 at Victoria’s metropolitan home, based at Tabcorp Park.
And while it may not marry-up with Crowns of days gone by, somehow in a complex way it’s better than before.
For those just joining the Breeders Crown party, here is some context.
Well before COVID-19 cast its awesome shadow upon the globe, this wildly successful and staggeringly prestigious series stood at confronting crossroads.
From its inception, the Breeders Crown was branded as harness racing’s glorious grand finals for two, three and four-year-old standardbreds of both gaits.
In the old world, you see, before calendars collided, the Crown was staged in August as an end-of-season statement.
Where once it was the dream, however, it became a nightmare.
Naturally, organically, the biggest barns with the best horses dominated play. But when the time to pay-up came the numbers slowly faded. Something needed changing and wisdom won the day.
Moving to occupy a late spring-time slot wasn’t overly inspired of course, it simply had to happen. But other, previously proposed conversion sure have made their mark.
With all heats now staged in Victoria, there’s no cheap passage to semi-final night; with interlopers set the task of targeting these riches, they’re also asked to sacrifice something in the process.
In a way, none of this is ideal.
Australasia’s richest race night should be a brutal battle of the best against the best.
Pragmatically, however, if these changes weren’t affected, we may well have no Crown at all.
What those questioning whether to invest in this great series needed, was some empirical evidence that they could, with the right horse, and the right preparation, claim the ultimate prize.
And this year, Alex Ashwood, Aaron Dunn and Charlene Gusman among others are there to spark that fire with their narratives and nags.
Tonight’s Breeders Crown finals may not look like they once did, but neither does the world.
Maybe, after all the heartache, this new world is better.
HERE is a hot take.
If champion Kiwi filly Bettor Twist can somehow win the strongest Breeders Crown final for three-year-old pacing fillies since it’s inauguration, it could well be the greatest triumph in the series’ history.
Hyperbole aside, this batch of classic-age fillies are the finest both in top-end talent and considered depth since the Breeders Crown began over 20 years ago.
To win, Bettor Twist will almost certainly endure more labour and more pressure than all her gifted rivals.
And if she does there is no Aussie that won’t bow in awe.
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.