Place and Show Betting
I remember reading somewhere in one of the late, great Huey Mahl’s writings – where he was quoting one of his mentors (Lou Holloway was it??) – that (to paraphrase) “the best bet in racing is a bet to place on a super solid horse that fits the race and looks set to run his best today.”
In the current race-betting world of exotics up-the-kazoo – of every kind imaginable – the lowly place and show bets have been all but forgotten. ‘Bragging rights’ type bettors (which, really, make up the largest percentage) have relegated these wagers to little old grandmothers, or newbies trying to cash a ticket – any ticket!
These wagers aren’t glamorous, and they aren’t flashy; however, I think a re-evaluation of place and show betting is long overdue.
Read MoreGeneral Comments Forum
For specific responses from clients – read or post to the comments section of each individual post.
If you have other questions, or comments, or want to add your 2-cents about any topic related to horse racing – this is the place to do that.
Many of you have much to share – there are quite a few “old salts” here as well as numerous “newbies” – and everything in between. Questions – and answers (advice gained from experience) can be valuable to all.
Please feel free to chime in . . . we only ask that you keep it impersonal. This is not the place to “pick-a-bone” (or a verbal fight!) with someone else because they hold a different view.
Other than that – feel free.
I will also occasionally add testimonials and email comments (anonymously) here, so that you can read what others are saying to us.
Thanks – Gary
Read MoreThe Feds and Horse Racing
So now our illustrious congress has stuck its nose into horse racing’s drug problem, and is suggesting that organized horse racing (after 347 years in this country) needs “federal oversight.”
Oh boy – here we go!
Sure, let’s take control of horse racing away from the simply incompetent, and turn it over to the criminally incompetent!
If this goes through, it’s the death knell for horse racing as we know it. Let the feds get a hold of anything and it’s on an immediate path to ruination. These are same guys and gals that sell themselves to the highest bidder (er – lobbyist). The same ones that vote to take more and more away from the middle class citizen of this country – while never failing to vote themselves regular raises. The same ones that increase our taxes via a steady stream of pork barrel projects, endless bailouts, and never-ceasing world-wide meddling – while voting themselves special ‘perks’ and cushy ‘packages’ on our tax dime.
I mean – look at their great success in the “war on drugs.” Untold billions have been spent since 1971 – any progress? (Only in the wrong direction!)
The drug problem exists in horse racing – granted. It needs to be solved – granted. But, my gosh, turning horse racing over to the federal government?! I can’t think of a lousier approach.
Read MoreRead At Your Own Risk
Risk of what you might ask?
Only possibly wasting 10 minutes of your precious time – nothing more. The following will be simple musings as more-or-less relates to our game of horse racing . . .
But hey – the plot already thickens: “Risk” and “Time” – aren’t those two of the most critical points of handicapping and betting on the nags? Certainly they are, and how they tie together can mean the difference between success and failure in this arena. “Arena” rings another vaguely familiar bell. Horse racing’s early heyday began in the great arenas of ancient Rome along with the gladiator spectacles, and the Circus Maximus with its outrageous public games and contests.
Life was evidently ‘cheaper’ in those days, and perhaps the idea of putting oneself at great risk was far more acceptable. Imagine . . . utterly wild horse and chariot racing – with few rules and absolutely no regard for safety of man nor beast. But you can bet the wagering on those events was hot and heavy!
So what is at risk when you wager on a horse race – when you try to predict which horse will take the least amount of time to get from point A to point B?
Independence Day Thoughts
A word of warning – I may get into a bit of a rant here, and all of you won’t agree with my views. That’s fine of course, comment and let me know your own thoughts – after all, that is one of the freedoms that does currently still remain to us.
What does “independence” mean? To the founding fathers and the brave people who risked everything for freedom – it meant getting rid of the overbearing control being exercised from Britain in those times; unfair taxes, unfair search and seizure, unfair harassment of the ‘citizens,’ unfair pronouncements of what could and couldn’t be done by those people – etc. etc.
I know I’m not alone in feeling we are rapidly getting into a situation in these United States of America today where our freedoms – even those guaranteed by our constitution – are being taken from us. But – by who?
Read MoreRebates – Discussion / Offer
Are rebates important to your game?
For those of you who are even half-way serious about extracting a steady income from horse race betting, that question just might be a crucial one.
In other parts of our lives, we will go out of our way to get a bit of a discount on the price of something that we are purchasing. It can almost always be the deciding factor. If I’m buying a new bicycle for my son, and one store offers me a discount on the exact same model – all other things being equal, I will naturally choose the discounted offer. It only makes sense, and we are all accustomed to thinking and acting in this way.
What about in race betting? It seems many players don’t give much thought to finding where they can get the best discount on their wagering. Generally, players stay where they have been – it’s easier. Perhaps some aren’t aware that they could get rebates – or higher rebates – somewhere else.
But – again the question “How important are rebates anyway?”
Two examples follow:
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Royal Racing and Frog Juice . . .
“Frog Juice” is the latest news in racing’s drug scene. Synthesized from the poisonous secretions of a South American frog – the drug is supposedly 30 times more powerful than morphine. To date, it has only been found to be in use in Quarter Horse racing, but you and I know that unscrupulous individuals are not restricted to any one area of the racing industry.
It is obvious that the use of this new drug would be to mask the pain of existing injuries in order to send an unfit horse out to race. And isn’t it just as obvious that this will cause some of those horses to break down during the race. Follow along with me here please . . . And isn’t it just as obvious that in some of those breakdown accidents on the track – horses will get hurt badly enough that they will need to be put down . . . And jockeys will get hurt more or less severely – some maybe paralyzed or even killed.
Then I put to you that those who administer these illegal drugs (heck – even legal drugs if they in any way help mask pain or fatigue), or even those that turn a blind but knowing eye – should be held responsible for the injuries and/or deaths that result. This means they should be charged as perpetrators or accomplices in the crime of mayhem at the least – or negligent homicide where applicable – then punished accordingly.
Read MoreOf Dougs and Drugs
Racing is injured – and needs immediate care.
When will the powers that be in horse racing come to the realization that they ought to just get drugs out of the game? – Period! Now, in a year we might see a triple Crown winner after nearly half a century (which would do the game so much good in the public’s eye) . . . it has again been tarnished by the accusations of drug use by the trainer, Doug O’Neil. He is the trainer of the fine (and possibly great) horse, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, I’ll Have Another. It really is a laughable tragedy that horse racing shoots itself in the foot time after time . . . and the game continues its inexorable demise.
Without going into the “guilty” or “not guilty” part of the stink (O’Neil has been hit with 4 of the same violations) – the trainer has been given a a $15K fine, and a 45 day suspension (to begin after the Belmont Stakes) for “milkshaking” one of his runners (not, of course, I’ll Have Another) many months back. A “milkshake” is a mixture of bicarbonate of soda, sugar, electrolytes, and other stuff that helps prevent a horse from tiring as quickly.
But then – there are scores of legal and illegal substances given to horses by trainers trying to get that little extra performance edge. It’s a constant coming up with new substances and ways to avoid detection. The “game-within-the-game” – has become a circus.
Read MoreZenyatta News
The great mare, Zenyatta, is in foal again – her second time.
After giving birth to a colt sired by Bernardini in March, it has been announced she is now ultra-sound confirmed – pregnant in foal to the big gray stallion Tapit who has been siring some good ones – 18 Graded Stakes winners so far including Kentucky Derby runner Hansen. Nine year old Tapit stands for $125,000.
We’ll just have to wait to see how her offspring do at the track, but my gosh – if even a shade of mom Zenyatta shows up, they’ll be something to watch. Remember the “look at me” prancing and show-off high-stepping mode the giant of a mare used to get into before each race? Remember the mounting tension each time she raced on her way to 19 straight wins? Remember how almost everyone simply loved her?
What an icon she was – racing needs more like her.
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Del Mar Innovations
It was reported recently that Del Mar will be continuing their innovative “Ship and Win” program from last year’s meeting. Good – as far as I’m concerned – ALL attempted innovations are welcomed. With the steady deterioration of our game over the decades, any decent new idea would be better than the ineffectual clap-trap, and misguided marketing that has been the norm in recent decades.
Of course, Del Mar’s program is an attempt to get out of state horses shipping into California, and in that respect isn’t an idea that would work racing wide, but it has done very well for them. As reported by Thoroughbred Times from a Del Mar press release . . .
Read MoreZen and Horse Betting? Yeah – Right!
What is the sound of a one-handed handicapper clapping (?!?) –
Have you figured it out yet – how to achieve horse betting success?
Maybe that’s the problem – you’re still trying to “figure it out.” Analyzing and drawing conclusions about a race that you then use to make predictions is kind of like trying to roll a snowball up a sand dune!
So what to do? Throw darts . . . Blindfold and a hatpin . . . draw straws . . . bet like you overheard the cigar-chomper at the next table saying how he was going to bet?
Well, no – I suggest you raise your game to a higher level and begin to wager with the clarity and confidence that you are capable of. But – how to get to that level?
But before we get into the meat of this post, here is a gambler’s puzzle you can be thinking about as you read:
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