You've got to be kidding, but, no, this is what the news is that is swirling around the FaceBook horse racing circles. I always just assumed that everyone at the track would certainly be betting a few bucks, that is the way horse racing is supported. Without the wagering, there is nothing. How could a fan, not wager?
I am also trying to gather as much information on this with polls and inquiries, so be sure to give me some feedback. Especially if you are a fan that does not bet. Tell me how you are avoiding the urge to just grab a 3-5-7 Exacta box, or a 1-4 Daily Double, just for the fun of it. Because fun is what horse racing is all about. The racetrack is the only place that I know of, where horseplay, is not only welcomed and encouraged, it is the name of the game.
There is no better fun than horseplay, that is why it is forbidden everywhere else. Think about it, just about everywhere that fun could take place, you might still see a sign that forbids horseplay. The question seems to be, can you still have fun if you don't take your horseplay seriously, absolutely... positively.
I am really hoping that you are not of the belief that wagering on horse races is for handicappers only. There is plenty of fun to be had, and winning to be done, without any handicapping. Of course, the handicappers will say that betting the #4 instead of the #9 is handicapping. I say that is an example of taking a game too seriously. Have some fun, bet the #7 to win the 7th race... remember... horseplay is the definition of fun.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Horse Racing vs. Slot Machines
Can the unwashed play the races without getting hosed?
Absolutely, positively... or at least, why not? Is it really necessary that everybody holds an "official" handicapper card to get through the turnstile. Will horse racing ever get back to being the number 1 wagering game without thinning out the crowd at the casino and lottery line? Would it be possible for horse tracks to post a sign that says "3,5,7 and 2,4,6 Exacta players welcome".
How about something in the program for beginners that might actually help them play the game? Like maybe a notice such as "The top 3 Morning Line choices generally win about 67% of races at North American tracks, bet one today." Something like this might motivate a slot-player to try horse racing for an afternoon. Or, at least it would be more possible than with the standard advise of "learn handicapping".
Hasn't the average lottery player already stated that he/she doesn't want to learn to handicap horse races. Isn't that the reason they are in the mega-ball line for a quick-pik in the first place. Why can't the message be sent to this prospective horseplayer that he/she could box the top 4 Morning Line horses in the 5th race superfecta. Or even the bottom 4, at least that quick-pik would have better odds for winning.
It seems the insistance that all prospective participants "learn to handicap" is a little dysfunctional. Especially if it might be filling up the slot palaces rather than emptying them out. What would be wrong with advising beginners that the average pari-mutuel payoff at the horse track has been around 4-1 for 50 years or so. Than, turn them loose at a horse track to wager with abandon, at least for the first day. Why not?
Could it be that horse racing, by treating everyone like a handicapper, has turned away the average bettor. Could it be a turn-off for the casual fan when the track handicapper can only pick 20% winners, to get the advice of "learn to handicap"?
On the FaceBook page - Play Maryland Racing, I've been playing the 3rd Morning Line choice profitably since the winter meet of Laurel Park began. 10 days of racing, 90 races, 16 winners and + $176. No handicapping, and I would suspect that the average casino player doesn't get such performance from a slot machine.
Yet track owners would rather get slot machines instead of selling the consistent racing product they have. I believe that this is the biggest detriment that horse racing has to overcome.
Horse racing is still the grand game, it is not being marketed. Marketing past performance data does not market horse racing to people that don't know it is the grand game.
Absolutely, positively... or at least, why not? Is it really necessary that everybody holds an "official" handicapper card to get through the turnstile. Will horse racing ever get back to being the number 1 wagering game without thinning out the crowd at the casino and lottery line? Would it be possible for horse tracks to post a sign that says "3,5,7 and 2,4,6 Exacta players welcome".
How about something in the program for beginners that might actually help them play the game? Like maybe a notice such as "The top 3 Morning Line choices generally win about 67% of races at North American tracks, bet one today." Something like this might motivate a slot-player to try horse racing for an afternoon. Or, at least it would be more possible than with the standard advise of "learn handicapping".
Hasn't the average lottery player already stated that he/she doesn't want to learn to handicap horse races. Isn't that the reason they are in the mega-ball line for a quick-pik in the first place. Why can't the message be sent to this prospective horseplayer that he/she could box the top 4 Morning Line horses in the 5th race superfecta. Or even the bottom 4, at least that quick-pik would have better odds for winning.
It seems the insistance that all prospective participants "learn to handicap" is a little dysfunctional. Especially if it might be filling up the slot palaces rather than emptying them out. What would be wrong with advising beginners that the average pari-mutuel payoff at the horse track has been around 4-1 for 50 years or so. Than, turn them loose at a horse track to wager with abandon, at least for the first day. Why not?
Could it be that horse racing, by treating everyone like a handicapper, has turned away the average bettor. Could it be a turn-off for the casual fan when the track handicapper can only pick 20% winners, to get the advice of "learn to handicap"?
On the FaceBook page - Play Maryland Racing, I've been playing the 3rd Morning Line choice profitably since the winter meet of Laurel Park began. 10 days of racing, 90 races, 16 winners and + $176. No handicapping, and I would suspect that the average casino player doesn't get such performance from a slot machine.
Yet track owners would rather get slot machines instead of selling the consistent racing product they have. I believe that this is the biggest detriment that horse racing has to overcome.
Horse racing is still the grand game, it is not being marketed. Marketing past performance data does not market horse racing to people that don't know it is the grand game.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Fans Win... Zenyatta 2010 Horse of the Year!
Could it be that common fans actually made a difference? It seemed that the horse racing media had worked long and hard to prep the public for the inevitable self-serving choice of Blame. Even to the point that most common fans of the game were resigned to accept the notion that only the scribes and commentators of the sport know what a good horse is. Or, at least, that they will do what they want whether common fans like it or not.
In light of so many recent demonstrations, I would have bet on the latter. I am surprised, but I have to wonder now if the common fans played some role in swaying the vote for horse of the year. With the internet providing so many avenues to common fans for purposes of expressing their opinions, I wonder if promotion of anything with regard to horse racing has become a two way street.
What an exciting prospect to consider, because if common fans are having an influence on the powers that be, anything is possible. Even to the point that maybe the common fans that are left could play a huge role in bringing back to two generations of common fans that have left horse racing for other games.
It doesn't seem that the Eclipse award for Horse of the Year 2010 going to Zenyatta is business as usual, could it be the dawn of a new fan-driven era? ... It could be.
In light of so many recent demonstrations, I would have bet on the latter. I am surprised, but I have to wonder now if the common fans played some role in swaying the vote for horse of the year. With the internet providing so many avenues to common fans for purposes of expressing their opinions, I wonder if promotion of anything with regard to horse racing has become a two way street.
What an exciting prospect to consider, because if common fans are having an influence on the powers that be, anything is possible. Even to the point that maybe the common fans that are left could play a huge role in bringing back to two generations of common fans that have left horse racing for other games.
It doesn't seem that the Eclipse award for Horse of the Year 2010 going to Zenyatta is business as usual, could it be the dawn of a new fan-driven era? ... It could be.
Friday, January 14, 2011
At the end of week #2 for Laurel Park and the 2011 Maryland racing season, the races at Laurel have, so far, been a model of consistency and, a casual players dream. The crustiest of handicappers may grouse about short prices in general, but, the truth is that there have actually been plenty of "price" horses for them to get a hold of too.
The top 3 Morning Line choices have been winning 7 and 8 races a day like clockwork since day one of the meeting. This should be news to shout loud enough from the grandstand rooftop for half the lotto players in the state to hear. At least 100 or so slot-players driving by might swing in to give horse racing a shot.
This is news that should be getting out, while there may be many things to complain about in the horse racing world, racing in Maryland is actually going the way it is supposed to. Somebody should get out on the street and wave down some casino/lotto players. They could have bet two favorites in the Daily Double today and won almost 3.5 times the bet. Who said horse racing is difficult and complex.
The top 3 Morning Line choices have been winning 7 and 8 races a day like clockwork since day one of the meeting. This should be news to shout loud enough from the grandstand rooftop for half the lotto players in the state to hear. At least 100 or so slot-players driving by might swing in to give horse racing a shot.
This is news that should be getting out, while there may be many things to complain about in the horse racing world, racing in Maryland is actually going the way it is supposed to. Somebody should get out on the street and wave down some casino/lotto players. They could have bet two favorites in the Daily Double today and won almost 3.5 times the bet. Who said horse racing is difficult and complex.
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