[jjgold]

Taking it slow though, my first bet was $200 place on the 3 at Delmar last race we had it. We are looking to grind it out.

[BigBollocks]

GL JJ, that's the way you have to do it with horses. Nice timing as the Del Mar meet has just begun. I look forward to discussing the ponies with you in the future....

[zootiehead]

I only bet the small time midwestern tracks. I kill on $5000 claimers at River Downs.

[JBC77]

Horse guys are a dying breed. It's an old mans game.

[michael777]

i play horses and i am old

[robmpink]

Planning on going to the, " Afternoon Delight" when the meet starts?

[SBR_John]

JJ actually would give me a winner or two back in the day. I think he plays every race. Every race is his best pick of the day, kind of a problem.

[ritehook]

The only "grind" that's going to happen in horse racing is the parimutuel grind of the players' bankrolls.

The ultimate grinders are the bridge-jumpers.

They don't call these show bet plungers bridge jumpers for nothin'. When they hit that inevitable race when the surething favorite gets freaked by a seagull at the break and loses four lengths and any chance of hitting the board they go looking for a bridge to end their agony.

[ritehook]

Some tracks, tho, are wising up. The hefty parimutuel takes can only be overcome by the thieving insiders, of which the horse racing game is replete.

Would you play in a poker game where the house yanked 15 to 25% of every pot?

I understand the Laurel track in Maryland (and I assume all the Md tracks) just reduced the take to less than 12%. And
that Ellis Park just dropped it to 4% on the Pick Four.

This is all a start. When the parimutuel system (which took the place of individual bookmakers stationed at all tracks), was introduced in the late
30s, I understand the "take" was only a few percent.

Just like the federal income tax, when introduced around 1913was only a few percent, and only on the wealthiest income-earners.

[icemantbi]

I love playing the horses. I'm not bad at it, but not great. I fell in love with the sport a couple years ago when I attended the Queens Plate at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. It was great! I lost the Queens plate race, but banked $300 or so on the next race with a horse called Pandora's Secret, a 19-1 longshot. I was hooked after that.

And I'm not old, I'm only 26.

[betplom]

I've been playing the horses since I was a teenager (I'm 40), and for sure the takeout will kill your bankroll MUCH quicker than betting on sports.

I find that betting on sports is less frustrating. Although when you do win at the track, the payout is instant. Now if only the books could pay (and you could collect) minutes after the game was official.

I agree, (other than the major thoroughbred tracks in NY, CA, FL & KY) horse racing is a dying game, propped up by slots at many racetracks.

[MBENZ]

Some tracks, tho, are wising up. The hefty parimutuel takes can only be overcome by the thieving insiders, of which the horse racing game is replete.

Would you play in a poker game where the house yanked 15 to 25% of every pot?

I understand the Laurel track in Maryland (and I assume all the Md tracks) just reduced the take to less than 12%. And
that Ellis Park just dropped it to 4% on the Pick Four.

This is all a start. When the parimutuel system (which took the place of individual bookmakers stationed at all tracks), was introduced in the late
30s, I understand the "take" was only a few percent.

Just like the federal income tax, when introduced around 1913was only a few percent, and only on the wealthiest income-earners.

LAUREL PARK IS REDUCING TO 10%,BUT ONLY FOR 10 DAYS OF THE MEET

[bigboydan]

So you got any hot ones for Sunday coach?

[jjgold]

Danny we grinded out $400 yesterday and got righ the fuk out, might play some Delmar later.

If we can make $400 a day it would be nice.

Slots have really jumped up purses at small tracks.

[ritehook]

LAUREL PARK IS REDUCING TO 10%,BUT ONLY FOR 10 DAYS OF THE MEET

I guess it's an experiment then.

It's always been the case that when a track reduces the take the handle increases. (Because the players have more money to shove back into the mutuel machines, rather than instantly being bludgeoned.)

Whether it will increase significantly enough to satisfy the greed of the state is the question. Horse racing is in trouble in many areas, which is why "racinos" are the future if it's to survive live outside of NY, KY and CA.

These take reductions should have been done decades ago. Back in the 1940s, when the take hit what for that era was a huge 10%, some players publicly stated they were through betting, as it would be impossible to come out ahead with the ten percent grab.

Hope sports betting never goes parimutuel. Tho some places are trending that way, with "in game" betting.

[MBENZ]

Ritehook,whats happening in Md. racing is a friggin crime.They have had more than ample opportunity to incorporate slots,but they have'nt.I can remember going to Pimlico with my dad in the fiftys and it was elbow to elbow,now they are ghost towns.I hope somebody wakes up soon and saves the greatest 2 minutes in sports.Things stay like they are and the Preakness will be run somewhere else.

[jjgold]

We did not bet yet today, still looking at Delmar card, I have discipline with horses now.

[curious]

The only "grind" that's going to happen in horse racing is the parimutuel grind of the players' bankrolls.

The ultimate grinders are the bridge-jumpers.

They don't call these show bet plungers bridge jumpers for nothin'. When they hit that inevitable race when the surething favorite gets freaked by a seagull at the break and loses four lengths and any chance of hitting the board they go looking for a bridge to end their agony.

I had a big bet on a favorite a few weeks ago and the jockey fell off the horse about 100 yards out of the gate, then got ran over by two other horses. OUCH.

[ritehook]

Maryland isn't the only state in trouble re live horseracing if they don't get slots. Jersey is another, and there are more.

Some may say if they can't cut it on their own, let 'em die. The racehorse business counters that racing, triaining, breeding etc employs a lot of people in the state.

Racing brought the misery on itself. For decades, when it was the only legal gamble in town, they displayed an arrogance beyond belief, and an incompetence and indifference in marketing their product that was a textbook example of the vices of monopoly.

For one thing, the tracks long ago should have gotten control of the past performances and provided them either free or at nominal cost to the patrons.

The industry also ignored clear doping of the animals - this is still a major problem. The vets who scurry around all tracks with their hypo needles control the game.

Either ban ALL drugs (including Lasix and bute) or allow ALL drugs. This twilight zone is a farce.

[betplom]

Well said Ritehook. I couldn't agree more.

Having been involved in Thoroughbred racing myself, I've seen the better horsemen constantly get beat by trainers associated with certain veterinarians.

Racetracks have been arrogant and are now reaping the rewards.

[kdmfox]

Some tracks, tho, are wising up. The hefty parimutuel takes can only be overcome by the thieving insiders, of which the horse racing game is replete.

Would you play in a poker game where the house yanked 15 to 25% of every pot?

I understand the Laurel track in Maryland (and I assume all the Md tracks) just reduced the take to less than 12%. And
that Ellis Park just dropped it to 4% on the Pick Four.

This is all a start. When the parimutuel system (which took the place of individual bookmakers stationed at all tracks), was introduced in the late
30s, I understand the "take" was only a few percent.

Just like the federal income tax, when introduced around 1913was only a few percent, and only on the wealthiest income-earners.

Good post ritehook and on the money ... If you had 6 guys over your house playing poker with 1500 each and you yanked 15% from every pot it wouldn't be long before you had most of the money ... A perfect analogy with a racetrack ... With simulcasting it goes even faster into their pockets with more races to bet.

[jjgold]

Racing in like 10 years will be totally gone