04/19/24
March 15, 2005
Trainer quoted as saying that anyone who bets on horses is "an addict or an idiot": Members of the Santa Anita board of stewards said Thursday that they would speak to trainer Jeff Mullins regarding controversial remarks attributed to him in a newspaper article last weekend and that one of Mullins's clients would be sanctioned for a heckling incident related to the comments.
posted by the red terror to other at 10:23 AM - 12 comments
As a former owner of standardbreds(trotters), I couldn't agree with Mr Mullin's comments more. If you've ever been on the "backstretch", you realize that if you don't have a real vested interest into the outcome of a race, you don't have a prayer. Most every race is predermined based on financial need, favors or vendettas. It's the main reason why I got of the game nearly 5 years ago. Fortunately, there are some exceptions to this "rule" like major stakes races or pre-race detention barns(to prevent "tampering" with the horses). It really is a shame, because the beauty, speed aand finesse of these animals and their drivers is really breathtaking. I've sat behind many of my own horses and just going at half speed is hair-raising.
posted by PALDOR2 at 04:06 PM on March 15, 2005
Any Gambler is either an addict or an idiot in my book. That said, betting on modern horse racing is about as smart as betting on modern Wrestling. If you know enough about Horses to bet well, then you know enough about horse racing to know not to bet. I love horse racing, but Boxing is clean by comparison.
posted by LostInDaJungle at 04:27 PM on March 15, 2005
I don't think there's anything wrong with the odd bet now and again, but in my experience there are much more profitable sports to gamble on than horse racing. They don't call it a mug's game for nothing. There's a big problem here in the UK at the moment with an ongoing race-fixing investigation. 27 people have been arrested and bailed, including the Champion Jockey... so it doesn't exactly instil confidence when you hand your money over to the bookmaker.
posted by afx237vi at 05:29 PM on March 15, 2005
I've seen many people at the track who don't give a damn about the horses, the only "action" they see is on a tote board, it's pretty sad. I've been to Woodbine in Toronto many times, and the enormous lineups at the ATM as early as the 3rd race is always a sad sight. But two silver linings: 1. If you're town is dry and you absolutely-positively gotta get your hands on some chronic, go down to the rail next to the home stretch after the 4th race, and often you'll get someone ready to sell their personal stock so that they can get back to the betting wicket. 2. If you must bet, save your dollars for the last race and bet a favourite, it's almost certain that horse will have the best odds of any favourite on the whole race card. Why? Because 90% of punters are running a big loss by the time that last race rolls around, and they ain't gonna cover by betting favourites, they're praying on long-shots and their wives not killing them when they get home with empty pockets.
posted by the red terror at 05:36 PM on March 15, 2005
afx237vi... I hadn't heard about the race-fixing scandal, so did a quick google. Here's the Guardian link. Should be interesting to see what transpires.
posted by the red terror at 05:42 PM on March 15, 2005
If you bet money you can afford to lose so as to add spice to something you enjoy anyway with no real expectation of a win, you aren't an idiot. If you bet on your system that's going to make you rich, you're most likely an idiot.
posted by rodgerd at 03:02 AM on March 16, 2005
If you bet on a system "to make you rich" without much cash on hand, you will most likely -- as in 99.7% likely -- fail. You need a big wad of cash to make money. And patience. And a lot of nerves. Professional gamblers aren't scared to drop $10,000 on a sure bet that will payout $12,000. Two dollars profit on a ten dollar bet doesn't sound like much, but 20 percent profit is better than some stock dividends, and there's more action. There are systems that work. I rarely bet -- it requires too much time for my system -- but I've won payouts of $1000 on a $20 start by betting on favourites. It's called a snowball. Goes like this... Get the racing form for your track (for me, Woodbine). There will usually be 10 races on the card. Pore over the fields and pick the BEST horse in each race. Now, go back over those races and eliminate three favourites that you think are dodgy. Now you are down to your 7 picks in 7 races. You are going to bet for SHOW (3rd place) and snowball the winnings. If you know your formguides, you should be able to pick a horse that has a very good chance of finishing in the top three. For the first race, I bet $20. Let's say he finishes with a show, and pays $3.30 on a $2 bet. Now you have $33. Take the $33 and bet it for a show on your next pick. It might pay anywhere from 2.10 to 7.50 on a $2 bet. Let's say it pays $4. You've now doubled your $33 and have $66. Bet that sum on your next pick...and so on and so fotrth. It's "the snowball." The thing is, you have to be patient, you have to be disciplined (no looking at the tote board and changing your pick at the last minute! ... seeing dollar signs usually turns to disaster), and you have to be prepared to take a heavy loss (I've lost over $500 on the last race with this method) and tell yourself -- *sigh* it's only $20, it's only $20, it's only $20. You also have to be prepared for your first horse to tank, and either start again, or just take some action on wins, exactors and tris. My system, which has been known for deacdes before I ever used it, is not the sort of thing you attempt last-minute at the track, you need to study the form guide the day before and make a plan.
posted by the red terror at 09:58 AM on March 16, 2005
I knew a guy(former neighbor) who used a somewhat similar formula. He used to bet $1000 minimum on a favorite from the rail at the old Roosevelt Raceway. It seems they had a rubberized track that favored inside horses with good early speed. The bet paid the minimum(in those days) of $2.20. It doesn't add up to much, but he did it so successfully and often, he made enough money to put a downpayment on a NYC Taxi medallion, which, when he died, was worth over $75,000. He told me he never lost in a ten year period, which I found hard to believe, until he had me place bets for him(pre-OTB days), and he never lost! I must have done it a 100 times. It was part of the hook that got me into the game, which wound up 30 years later as an owner of standardbreds(see my previous posting).
posted by PALDOR2 at 11:02 AM on March 16, 2005
It dawned on me a few years ago that Pro-Line runs something like a snowball, just that all the bets are placed at the same time and multiply. I think 5 picks is the maximum though, correct? (I don't play, but my friends do.) I think one of the reasons they have a max is because you could run up a pretty big payout with the multiplication. Of course, snowballing at the track, you could be up a good sum after the 4th or 5th race and get out early with your winnings, whereas Pro-Line doesn't offer such an option, you ride your picks to the end.
posted by the red terror at 12:30 PM on March 16, 2005
Paldor-- there are loads of systems that punters have at different tracks, where the horses run at certain poles, early speed, inside vs outside, etc. And of course, "horses for courses." Years ago, or rather, decades ago, I used to bet a lot -- I mean, a LOT -- and for all the effort I put into it, at the end of the year, I was lucky to break even. Nowadays I go to the track about 3-5 times a year. I bring $100 and leave the debit card at home. It's more fun than laying out $135 for a Raptor ticket, and sometimes I take home more money than I came with. For those that don't know, Woodbine is the best bang-for-your-buck pro sporting event in Toronto. It's free admission, and free parking, so you can enjoy the races, check out the amazing million-dollar equine specimens in the post-parade, and it will cost you nothing.
posted by the red terror at 12:37 PM on March 16, 2005
the red terror- kudos to you my friend. I do the same at the Meadowlands. I too no longer bring the "wad", but on a few days of the year(Hanbletonian,etc.) I just enjoy the beauty of the sport, have a drink or two and if I lose a hundred, it's pretty much a bargain.
posted by PALDOR2 at 09:26 PM on March 16, 2005
wow, i guess there isn't a trainer's association or horse union to keep him in line, eh?