Handicapping Horse Races

30 Days To ValueCapping™ Mastery Part 1

admin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:15:59 +0000

Wizards’ Forum Audio Series 2 Part 9. Describing a process that will massively improve your ValueCapping™

Stronach seeks 140 dates for Santa Anita

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:55:43 +0000

Stronach seeks 140 dates for Santa Anita

Frank Stronach has requested permission from the California Horse Racing Board for MI Developments Inc.'s two California racetracks, Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita Park, to each be allowed to race a minimum of 140 dates.

Echoing a call for less regulation that was a major theme in Stronach’s CHRB meeting appearance last month, the MI Developments chairman said the company should have the opportunity to devise its own schedule.

“We must be allowed to run those race days when we think we can get the most customers,” Stronach said in the letter dated July 1. (To read Stronach's full letter to the CHRB, click here.)

Santa Anita was allotted 83 dates in the 2009-’10 meet from December 26 to April 18. The track also has been leased to the Oak Tree Racing Association from September 29 to October 31 this fall, but MI Developments has indicated that it wants to discontinue its relationship with Oak Tree after this year.

Santa Anita could be a candidate to pick up live dates from Hollywood Park, which has been earmarked for development, but Hollywood’s development plans are uncertain because of the struggling economy.

“Naturally we do not seek any special status and believe that any other track should be able to compete for the same customers,” Stronach said. “We have no concerns if other tracks receive the same arrangement as MI Development

For the rest of the article: http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2010/July/28/Stronach-seeks-140-dates-for-Santa-Anita.aspx

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Article: NYRA cuts more than $2-million from Belmont, Aqueduct stakes

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:30:22 +0000

NYRA cuts more than $2-million from Belmont, Aqueduct stakes

Posted: Monday, July 26, 2010 6:57 PM

NYRA cuts more than $2-million
from Belmont, Aqueduct stakes

The New York Racing Association remained in reduction mode in cutting the purses for 12 races and shelving nine others from its stakes schedule for the Belmont Park and Aqueduct fall meets.

Stakes purses for the two meets will total $8,740,000, down from more than $11.3-million in 2009. NYRA cut $1.4-million from its stakes program for the Belmont spring and summer and Saratoga Race Course meets earlier this year.

“Our fall stakes programs rank among the tops in the industry and we are looking forward to great racing at Belmont Park and Aqueduct,” NYRA President Charles Hayward said. “The changes that we made to the meets are a reflection of the current economic climate and the nationwide reductions in the horse population.”

NYRA cuts more than $2-million from Belmont, Aqueduct stakes
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2010/July/26/NYRA-cuts-more-than-2-million-from-Belmont-Aqueduct-stakes.aspx
Sent from my astonishing iPad

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

NYRA stewards plan to explain Saratoga decisions

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:38:05 +0000

In a welcome step towards transparency, the stewards at Saratoga will be providing explanations for their actions. A welcome step forward from the Star Chamber like proceedings at some venues

NYRA stewards plan to explain Saratoga decisions

Stewards at New York Racing Association tracks plan to provide to the public reasons for decisions that affect official orders of finish.

Beginning with the opening of Friay’s Saratoga meeting, stewards’ race-day decisions involving the official order of finish will be communicated through the simulcast feed and posted on the NYRA.com site. After a horse is disqualified, many fans often are confused about the reasons for such a decision.

Directly following any decision they make having to do with the official order of finish, including inquiries and objections, the stewards will provide an explanation of what happened and the reason for their decision. Also, if there is an inquiry or an objection in which the stewards ultimately decide not to take action, their reasoning will be provided.

For the rest of the article from Thoroughbred Times: http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2010/July/23/NYRA-stewards-plan-to-explain-Saratoga-decisions.aspx#

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

New Jersey Gaming Commission Does Not Support Racing

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:27:36 +0000

Here's Bill Finley's hard hitting article on the New Jersey Gaming, Sports and Entertainment Advisory Committee. It does not augur well for Meadowlands harness racing, or for thoroughbred racing, even though all indications are that the changes made by Monmouth this summer have done very well

Commission to N.J. racing: Drop dead

When New Jersey Governor Chris Christie put together something called the New Jersey Gaming, Sports and Entertainment Advisory Commission and asked it to come up with solutions for the many thorny issues facing the state's gambling interests, the horse racing industry knew it might be in for a hard time. Not only were the Meadowlands and Monmouth, both state-owned tracks, losing money the state couldn't afford to lose, but also the deck figured to be stacked in favor of the powerful Atlantic City casino interests. In New Jersey, it always is.

But no one could have expected what was to come out of the commission, a report that figures to have devastating consequences for New Jersey racing, particularly the harness industry. The commission didn't come up with one thing to help horse racing or even a hint of a solution. Rather, it says the way to fix things is to kill the game.

For the entire article: http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/columns/story?columnist=finley_bill&id=5402529

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Bill Allen, Raced Wild Again, Passes Away

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:28:50 +0000

Bill Allen, Raced Wild Again, Dies

By Blood-Horse Staff

Updated: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 8:30 AM
Posted: Monday, July 19, 2010 3:36 PM

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Bill Allen, whose colt Wild Again won the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I), died July 16 at his Las Vegas home. He was 83.

Allen and partners Terry Beal and Ron Volkman had to make Wild Again eligible to the 1984 Classic with a $360,000 supplemental payment. Wild Again, sent off at 31-1 odds and racing in the name Black Chip Stable, won the $3-million race after a messy battle with Gate Dancer and Slew o’ Gold in the stretch. Gate Dancer, easily recognizable because of a white hood, was disqualified from second and placed third, and Slew o’ Gold, part of the favored 3-5 entry, was moved up to second.

Wild Again, who retired from racing with $2,204,829 in earnings, became a successful stallion, siring 88 stakes winners. He died in late 2008.

Allen, who raced several other stakes winners, is survived by his wife, Nina, and four children. A son-in-law, Bryan Brown, is chief executive officer of Retama Park.

via bloodhorse.com

I saw Bill very often in the Clubhouse at the Las Vegas Country Club, but unfortunately never got to talk racing with him. My condolences to his family

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

An Upbeat Article About Thoroughbreds

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:25:47 +0000

Bill Finley has written a worthwhile article about reasons to be optimistic in the midst of the doom and gloom going on in thoroughbred racing.

Reasons to be cheerful

It seems that all we write about and all we talk about anymore is the bad stuff. Gloom, doom, more gloom, more doom. OK, so maybe the sport of horse racing is going through a brutally tough, immensely difficult time, but personally, I need a break from this before my head explodes. I'm taking the week off, at least when it comes to being a purveyor of doom and this column.

This week's theme: Don't worry, be happy … or nine reasons to feel good about horse racing, still the greatest game there is.

1. Monmouth Park: The 50-day, $50 million meet has been wildly successful. Total, all-sources handle has risen about 118 percent as horseplayers have responded enthusiastically to the great racing and big fields that have made Monmouth the best betting game out there. Even attendance is way up (by 44.5 percent), which never happens anymore.

As racetracks everywhere are searching for solutions to the myriad problems, Monmouth is providing the answer. Now all the rest have to do is follow the blueprint. If enough tracks convert to short meets with big fields and rich purses, the sport will be considerably better off.

2. Saratoga is upon us. OK, so maybe they shouldn't have expanded the meet, but Saratoga will still be Saratoga, which means terrific racing in an atmosphere unparalleled in the sport. It's one of the few places left where a day at the track remains a special experience. If nothing else, it will allow New York racing to forget about its problems, more or less, over the next six weeks.

For the rest of the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/columns/story?columnist=finley_bill&id=5392855#

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

South Point Opening New Race Book

admin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:54:10 +0000

Amidst the din of doom and gloom about thoroughbred racing, one property in Vegas is actually opening a new and improved race book. No surprise, really, as Michael Gaughan has always 'gotten' it about horse racing, and giving players good value for the gaming dollar. Mr. Gaughan has always treated me very well at the Coast properties when he owned them, and I look forward to seeing the new book.

Here's the first part of Richard Eng's article about it:

Old-school Las Vegas casinos were known for offering value. Long before glitz and glamour, a free drink, a comp meal and a fair gamble kept customers coming back.

The current casino that best fits the old-school mold is the South Point. Considering the pedigree of owner Michael Gaughan, son of gaming pioneer Jackie Gaughan, it comes as no surprise. His hands-on philosophy truly means the customer comes first.

So, while most casino companies are crying poor and reducing perks and payouts to customers, the South Point is doing the exact opposite. This successful marketing strategy has allowed Gaughan to unveil a major expansion that will include a brand new race book, poker room and space for 500 more slot machines.

For the rest of the story: http://www.lvrj.com/sports/old-school-south-point–ushers-in-new-book-98587839.html

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Article: HBO OKs First Season for Racing Drama ‘Luck’ - BloodHorse

admin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 03:31:19 +0000

HBO OKs First Season for Racing Drama ‘Luck’ - BloodHorse
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/57934/hbo-oks-first-season-for-racing-drama-luck

(via Instapaper)

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Good News For Racing: Indiana Downs Record Handle

admin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:29:17 +0000

Another Handle Record as Indiana Meet Ends

Total handle for the 13-race card was $2,667,917, track officials reported. The previous record of $2,140,490, for 10 races, was set June 30.The Indiana Downs meet went out with a bang July 14 with a new total handle record for one program.

Officials said the June 30 mark was passed after nine races July 14.

“It was a wonderful card, and it was a great night to be out at the races,” Indiana Downs director of racing Butch Cook said in a statement. “I’m not surprised at all that the betting record was broken again. I knew when we took the entries

For the rest of the article:

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/57916/another-handle-record-as-indiana-meet-ends#

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology