HORSE TALK

Fifty years ago, the three most popular spectator sports in America were horse racing, boxing and baseball. Of the three, only baseball remains in the first rank of our nation's sportscape. Boxing I don't think will ever regain its former standing, but there is hope for horse racing. NASCAR's popularity shows that Americans finding the circumnavigation of an oval riveting, and maybe horse racing can borrow some of NASCAR's devices. For instance, perhaps the races would be better if the horses got a running start instead of bolting out of a fixed gate. If so, then there would need to be some sort of pace car for horse races. I suggest this: