The definition of a successful PLACE wager as it pertains to thoroughbred racing is as follows: A straight wager involving selection of a runner that finishes in at least second position.

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For a seasoned player, the term “show bet†usually conjures up an image of a 97-year-old woman with a fist full of change shutting out several angry patrons who are trying to bet the late double. After all, in this new wagering realm of rolling pick 3s, guaranteed pick 4s, million-dollar pick 6s and 10-cent superfectas, who in the heck is playing just a single horse to hit the board?

A majority of grizzled horseplayers have traveled down the show-wagering road before and, for most the journey, probably transpired very early on in their gambling career. At first glance, the show bet seems like a very easy one to win, and a “green†player eager to find a “system†often inherently latches onto this cure-all elixir for poverty.

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After Ruler On Ice splashed his way across the Belmont Park finish line on June 11 to capture the third jewel of Thoroughbred Racing’s Triple Crown, a despair that I had yet to know cloaked my handicapping psyche. I’ve never gracefully absorbed defeat inside my favorite gaming genre, but the improbable win by this 24-1 shot whose previous claim to fame was a score against $50,000 allowance types might have been swallowed with less distain if it wasn’t for the events that preceded it. Kentucky Derby Champion Animal Kingdom, who returned a $43.80 win mutual, and the gutsy Shackleford, who lasted on the Preakness Stakes front end to the tune of $27.20, opened the wound that Ruler On Ice eventually rubbed salt in, but it would be a lie to state that the possibility of outlandish results inside this year’s Triple Crown Series were not foreshadowed.

Virtually all of the preliminaries leading into the First Saturday in May were conquered by equines who previously flew under the radar, and the following scroll of victors proves the outsiders listed above were simply reinforcing established form within the 3-year-old thoroughbred ranks: Tampa Bay Derby— Watch Me Go 43-1; Louisiana Derby— Pants On Fire 6-1; Sunland Derby— Twice the Appeal 25-1; Wood Memorial— Toby’s Corner 8-1; Santa Anita Derby— Midnight Interlude 13-1; Blue Grass Stakes— Brilliant Speed 19-1; Arkansas Derby— Archarcharch 25-1.

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If you have been playing the races this year and are not happy with the results you’ve been getting recently, then it is always a smart idea to take a step back and analyze the situation. What are you doing right, and more importantly, what exactly are you doing wrong?

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You would naturally assume that a student who takes trumpet lessons once a week for two years would be able to play their instrument with a moderate level of proficiency. What would be the result, though, if over the next 12 months, the student only bothered to practice half a dozen times? You guessed it — this player’s level of expertise would dramatically recede. The same axiom of deterioration through complacency applies to thoroughbred racehorses, and when these animals spend extended periods of time away from the oval, an erosion of skills is inherent.

Thoroughbred racehorses are physically gifted equine athletes, and like any competitor, they remain susceptible to the rigors that their craft distributes. Minor injuries are common, and while a fair percentage of equines have competed with a bump or bruise, runners with serious afflictions usually require an extended vacation in order to regain soundness.

Owners spend vast amounts of money to buy thoroughbreds, and trainers depend on equine success to put food on the table. Due to these monetary consequences, the last word either party ever wants to utter is “retirement.†Even if a thoroughbred seems destined for the breeding shed, a hiatus will almost always be furnished by the connections until any hope of recovery has been extinguished. This period of optimism typically has no expiration date and may be significant if the equine is in the early stages of their career and has not yet had the opportunity to reach full potential.

Handicapping a horse race in which a key contender is coming off an extended layoff often rates as problematic. One may search the work tab for answers, but most seasoned handicappers know that even if these numbers read solidly, the animal may still be lacking prime fitness. A thoroughbred will usually not fire their best shot returning from a layoff that stretches past three months, and, in most cases, it is suggested to let such a beast get a race under their belt before backing them at the mutual window. Now, most handicapping ideologies contain exception clauses, and with that said, I do believe a player can capitalize on a prodigal runner who possesses a significant class edge.

If I could only teach you one thing about betting the ponies that my 15 years of experience has taught me, it would be that CLASS WINS RACES! The term “class†may be initially difficult to get your mind around, but for our purposes, a “classy†racehorse will demonstrate the willingness to win in fast company. The classiest horses regularly run in stakes races, and in descending order of prestige, these contests rank: Grade 1 Stakes, Grade 2 Stakes, Grade 3 Stakes and Non-Graded Stakes.

It would now be pertinent to cite a few examples that lend creditability to the claim that “back-class†is a powerful handicapping angle, and as fate would have it, two perfect illustrations just happen to be festering in my frontal lobe. On Feb. 5, I visited Tampa Bay Downs to view the 21st running of the Super Stakes, and while figuring the feature, it became apparent that though a field of 10 was set to go post ward, only two runners warranted consideration for win honors. See I A had won the non-graded Pelican Stakes in his last start at Tampa and sought a sixth consecutive triumph, while morning-line favorite and Grade I winner Capt. Candyman Can was returning to action off a 15-month layoff.

Deciding between these entries was perplexing because the local equine was performing at an astonishing level but was outclassed on paper by his rusty rival. My quandary was only augmented after a glance at the tote board revealed that both runners stood at odds of 2-1, obviously my fellow patrons straddled the fence as well. Even though I always preach the importance of “class,†in the end I became smitten with See I A’s string of victories. This transgression ultimately cost me, and after Capt. Candyman Can rallied to win by half a length, I came to the realization that betting a former claimer to best a runner who had participated in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Sprint was a poor decision.

Held on March 5 at Aqueduct Racecourse, the 1 1/16-mile Gotham Stakes was headlined by Kentucky Derby contenders Toby’s Corner and Stay Thirsty. Toby’s Corner entered the Gotham off an impressive score in Aqueduct’s non-graded Whirlaway Stakes a month earlier, while multiple Grade I Stakes participant Stay Thirsty was making his return to action off a four-month layoff. “Back-class†was again the deciding factor in this race, as odds-on-favorite Stay Thirsty won easily by 3¼ lengths.

It is important to note that while the examples given pertain to stakes horses, the “back-class†angle can also be used in handicapping other levels of racing. Competitive allowance types descending into the claiming ranks always deserve consideration, as do equines who fall from Maiden Special Weight into Maiden Claiming. Remember that the aim in this game is to simply find the fastest horse, and they reside in one place — the head of their “class.â€

For more free horseracing tips, visit www.southerngaming.com/horseracing 

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Eric Vaughn Floyd is a turf writer for various gaming publications and consultant to several nationwide media outlets in regards to the Triple Crown. Excerpts from his gambling memoir, “The Backstretch (My First Decade Playing the Game),†can be viewed at LULU.com.
Eric Floyd

Every genre of gaming has its own specialized jargon that players eventually become fluent in with the passage of time. Poker enthusiasts who engage in Texas Hold ’em have a nickname for practically every set of whole cards, and within a session, it is not surprising to see “Big Slick†(Ace/King), Dolly Parton (Nine/Five), a canine (King/Nine), some “Ducks†(Pair of Twos) and the “Hooks†(Pair of Jacks) rear their head upon the felt. When it comes to the “Sport of Kings,†the gross amount of slang used is enough to make one’s head spin, and the unfortunate news for the novice is this: An adequate knowledge of this verbiage is required to intelligently participate. So it’s best to take some notes.

Though unbelievably complex, thoroughbred racing’s core language is fascinating to study and in line with my duty to educate any soul who has recently become smitten with betting equines. I would like to offer the following “beginner’s glossary†for you to use next time you’re at the track. These terms lay the foundation for an entirely new vocabulary, and, though not comprehensive, the list will equip one to navigate the sometimes treacherous trek from the paddock to the teller.

Pari-Mutuel Wagering — In casino games, the player squares off against the house, but inside the world of horseracing, war is waged among the patrons themselves. A racetrack doesn’t put money stored in its coffers up against the bettors, it simply books wagers on a race, then skims a percentage off the top (usually about 20 percent …ouch!) before offering the final odds. The word Pari-Mutuel has French roots and implies “the settling of a debt among us.†For me personally, the term boils down to either emptying or filling a fellow horseplayer’s wallet.

Handicapping — The imperfect science of assessing a thoroughbred’s “form†through an infinite variety of both scientific and abstract calculations.

Paddock — The area where entrants are saddled and jockeys unite with their mounts. There is usually a walking ring in close proximity where the horses are initially paraded in front of an eager public.

Post Parade — This pre-race ritual takes place on the main track and requires all participating runners to line up and canter in front of the main grandstand while being introduced over the public address system.

Post Time — The designated juncture when a race is scheduled to begin.

Chalk — Refers to the race favorite, the horse who has taken the most money, or equine the public fancies to triumph.

Tote Board — A rather large electronic display device usually located within the infield that provides bettors with the race number, post time, current odds and payouts of selected exotic wagers.

Odds on Favorite — A thoroughbred listed on the tote board at less than even money.

Maiden — A thoroughbred that has never won a race. Maidens typically compete against one another in either Maiden Claiming or Maiden Special Weight races.

Claiming Races — These are the most common races, and the nomenclature simply means that every entry in the fray is for sale to a licensed trainer. “Claims†for horses must be turned in at least 10 minutes before post time, and the purchased animals are received “AS IS†upon conclusion of the race. (It is, unfortunately, possible to claim a dead racehorse.)

Bull Ring — Any racing complex where the oval is less than a mile in circumference.

Class — This is perhaps the most difficult term in racing to get one’s mind around. In a nutshell, a horse’s class refers to its quality as demonstrated in competition. Hence a “lower class†equine will exhibit a shortage of willingness.

Lasix — While running at top speed, there are certain occasions where the vessels in a thoroughbred’s lungs will burst, causing the animal to “bleed.†Lasix is a medication that helps prevent this undesirable occurrence, and its first-time usage is a powerful handicapping angle many players consider.

Workout(s) — Any number of exercise sessions a thoroughbred participates in leading up to a start. Workouts are listed in bold underneath a horse’s running lines in the Daily Racing Form or track program.

Furlong — An eighth of a mile. Furlongs are used to communicate any race or workout under a mile. (Example: A six-furlong race equals ¾ of a mile.)

Gelding — A castrated horse. Thoroughbreds with unruly temperaments are sometimes gelded so they become easier to condition.

Rank — A horse that cannot be rated or throttled down. These equines sprint straight to the lead and exhaust themselves in an untimely manner.

If you are interested in learning more horseracing terminology, I highly recommend Tom Ainslie’s “Thoroughbred Racing Encyclopedia†or his exceptionally well-written “Guide to Thoroughbred Racing,†available in major bookstores and Amazon.com.

For more free horseracing tips, visit www.southerngaming.com/horseracing 

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Author Bio: Eric Vaughn Floyd is a turf writer for various gaming publications and consultant to several nationwide media outlets in regards to the Triple Crown. Excerpts from his gambling memoir, “The Backstretch (My First Decade Playing the Game),†can be viewed at LULU.com.

Week ending 4/16/2011:

An unexpected lack luster performance from Uncle Mo in last Saturday’s Wood Memorial has left horseracing nation scrambling to find an heir apparent to the now vacant position of “Kentucky Derby Favoriteâ€.  The Factor just might inherit the role if he emerges victorious against a field of twelve in this weekend’s 1 1/8 mile $1,000,000 G1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.  The Factor was last seen going wire to wire in Oaklawn’s 1 1/16 Rebel Stakes on March 19^th but trainer Bob Baffert has stated that the top three year old in his barn must deliver the goods again if he is to press on to Louisville.

A total of six horses from the Rebel Stakes will return to try their luck against The Factor but this son of War Front might receive his stiffest challenge from a half brother of last year’s Kentucky Derby Champion.  The Todd Pletcher trained Bretheren blitzed the field by five lengths in Tampa Bay Downs’ Sam F. Davis Stakes on Feb. 12^th but faltered as an odds on favorite in the 1 1/6 mile $350,000 G2 Tampa Bay Derby one month later. 

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Horseracing: Lessons in Equine Indexing

I live in close proximity to a delightful thoroughbred racetrack named Tampa Bay Downs. My local oval is open from mid-December until the day after the Kentucky Derby, and during Tampa’s live meet, I take every opportunity to frequent this sun-drenched alcazar dedicated to the “Sport of Kings.†I am pleased to say that I have befriended some of the racetrack’s operating officials (Cathy Dwyer, simulcast coordinator and Richard Grunder, track announcer), and, naturally, some of the regular faces in the crowd have become
quite familiar.

Early last March while ordering a cup of coffee at the Clubhouse Turn Café, I overheard a patron boisterously proclaim to everyone within earshot that he had caught the daily double for $116. Now normally my spirit would revel alongside such a celebration, but here’s the thing: Three weeks earlier, I saw this exact same soul shouting obscenities in the men’s room because he had visited the ATM on three separate occasions since coming through the turnstiles.

Now there isn’t one of us out there who always wins, but if you swipe the plastic with any kind of regularity while gaming, chances are your balance sheet is bleeding red. Now understand I don’t judge, in fact recently, I’ve burned through a few c-notes myself. However I can report to the penny how much has been donated to the counting room’s coffers over any sustained time period, because I write down every single one of my wagers.

If one is serious about making money at the ponies, they must treat the endeavor like a business, and that entails a detailed recording of all transactions. I often receive a response coated with disgust if I float this hypothesis out to one of my brethren, for the mythology is largely viewed as being too time consuming. Well, I’ll admit that cataloging every individual snippet of action may require some fresh discipline, but doing so simply makes for a better horseplayer.

In most instances when a losing betting slip hits the ground, the handicapper does a “brain dump,†then moves toward the next race. In this scenario, the reason for defeat is never fully scrutinized. If a handicapper charts the day’s plays, though, he is able to go back and discover the error of his ways and take steps to ensure a similar faus pax will be avoided in the future.

If a player wishes to better himself using this technique, a small investment is required. Any old spiral notebook will not do for the task of registering wagers because there must be stout attention to detail. To reap the full reward of equine documentation, you’ve got to grab a hammer, break the piggy bank and scrape together enough loose change to purchase a four-column accounting pad.

Now when charting bets, it’s imperative to be specific. In every instance, I personally note the date, track, condition of the strip, race number, thoroughbred’s name(s), post position, wager amount and type of bet (Ex: 2/28 – Tampa Bay Downs (fast) – Race 1 – Flying the Flag (#7) – $2 Place). After the race is completed and posted official, I proceed to enter my results. The first column is reserved for winning bets and, in this instance, Flying the Flag returned $3.80 in the place pool. After I subtract my initial investment of $2, I am left with a profit of $1.80, which is entered into the first column. If Flying the Flag would have failed to crack the top two positions, I would have entered ($2) into the second column that is reserved for losses.

When my session comes to a close, I tally up the day’s plays (in this case, I won $29.30) and enter the results into the third column. After every session hereafter, this number will be adjusted accordingly, thus forever eliminating balance speculation. In the ledger’s fourth column, I record expenses incurred while gambling. This might seem like overkill, but programs, gas, concession food and tips all erode the bankroll. Only after the player realizes the “cost†of gaming will he conceive ways to reduce this collateral outflow.

All of us who periodically chase greenbacks know that when Lady Luck vanishes from the scene, things get dicey — but that is when our book of numbers serves its greatest purpose. Being able to see how much you are down is a very sobering reality and tends to decelerate one’s compulsion to chase losses. The practice of documenting wagers will also reveal your overall strengths and weaknesses as a handicapper. For instance, after evaluating several of my sessions from early last year, it was obvious that throttling down my exacta play was imperative. On the other hand, I was surprised to discover a winning percent of .750 with regards to place and show wagers. Over the next few months, I employed a new strategy using these statistics and slowly erased my debt!

In closing, it is probably clear that applying the approach described above will take a dash of serious commitment, but then again, name me something of worth that doesn’t. Take the challenge and perhaps someday you’ll be included in the sparse 3 percent of horseplayers who consistently walk out a winner.

For more free horseracing tips, visit www.southerngaming.com/horseracing

Author Bio: Eric Vaughn Floyd is a turf writer for various gaming publications and consultant to several nationwide media outlets in regards to the Triple Crown. Excerpts from his gambling memoir, “The Backstretch (My First Decade Playing the Game),” can be viewed at www.LULU.com.

Are you a Slot Aficionado? Test your skills by answering the following questions about the one-armed bandits!

1. A coin cup atop the video screen or reel window of a slant-top slot machine means:
A) The machine is out of order
B) The machine is occupied by a player taking a break
C) The machine is out of coins and needs a hopper fill

2. Playing more than one machine at a time:
A) Narrows the house edge
B) Ensures the player of finding at least one loose machine
C) Costs the player more money in the long run

3. Jackpots are paid by hand:
A) When they’re over $500
B) When they’re over $1,000
C) When they’re too big for the coin capacity of the hopper

4. Casinos usually place their highest-paying machines:
A) Near table games
B) At the end of rows
C) Near the elevators
D) None of the above

Answers:
1. B. A coin cup left at a slot machine is occupied by a player taking a break. Other signals used by players include leaving jackets or sweaters on chairs or stools by the machines, or leaving drinks or cigarettes on the machines themselves. I’ve seen players leave personal belongings, including wallets and purses, on machines. That, of course, is unwise and an invitation to theft. It’s OK to take breaks during play and expect your machine to be waiting for you when you get back. Just be sure the breaks are of reasonable length, such as a bathroom or drink break. Saving the machine while you go play a different game for a while or take a nap is not reasonable.

2. C. Playing more than one machine costs the player more money in the long run. Many players think that of two machines placed side by side, one is bound to be hot. That is not necessarily the case — and even if it were, playing two machines would still lead to bigger long-term losses than playing one. That’s because even on “loose†machines, the casino has an edge. Not only that, but a customer can play each of the two machines nearly as fast as playing just one by pushing one machine’s buttons while reels are spinning on the other. That doubles the risk. Let’s say I’ve found two, two-coin $1 machines sitting side by side. By chance, I’ve hit it lucky — one of my machines is a 98-percent payback slot; the other returns an average of 95 percent in the long run. If I just play the 95-percenter for an hour at 500 spins per hour, I risk $1,000 and on the average lose $50. But let’s say I play both machines at a slightly slower 400 spins per hour instead. Now on the 95-percenter, I risk $800 and on the average lose $40. On the 98-percenter, I risk $800 and lose $16. My total losses rise to $56 per hour — more than if I’d just stayed with the weaker machine. And that’s if I hit it lucky and hit upon a high-paying machine. What if I’ve found two average machines? Now I’ve doubled my risk without increasing the rewards on either. What if one of them is an ice-cold 85-percenter? Ouch!

3. C. Jackpots are paid by hand when they are too big for the capacity of the hopper. On both quarter and nickel machines, I’ve had the hopper spit out as many as 2,000 coins. On the other hand, on dollar machines with their larger tokens taking up more hopper space, I’ve hand pays as small as $400. We tend to think of hand-paid jackpots as being large sums, the kind of hits that will guarantee us coming home with a profit. But I’ve had hand-pays of less than $20 on some of the new 100-coin penny slots. Of course, $20 amounts to 2,000 pennies, a bit much for the machine to process. In addition, really big wins are paid by hand, regardless of hopper capacity. The IRS requires the casino to have the player sign form W2-G before paying one-spin winnings of $1,200 or more.

4. D. Neither table games at the end of rows or near the elevators are places you’re particularly likely to find high-paying slots. A casino slot director once told me that particular myth is so widespread that he had taken to placing weak-playing machines at the ends of rows. In his book “Break the One-Armed Bandits,†Frank Scoblete interviewed a casino executive he called “Mr. Handle†on placement of slots. Mr. Handle told Frank to look for machines that were highly visible, that players could see from a variety of angles. Then everyone would be sure to see the fellow players winning and perhaps would take up positions at lower-paying machines. Shortly after the book came out, I was walking through Circus Circus on a wide walkway leading from one gaming area to another. There I saw it — the machine that was visible from every angle, the one that everyone who passed through this walkway would see, regardless of what direction they were walking. I had two quarters in my pocket — not enough for a fair test at all. I dropped them in the slot. Bam! Triple Bar! Triple Bar! Triple Bar! About 160 quarters came pouring into the tray. Evidence of a winning formula? No, this was nowhere near a serious test. It was just random chance, a one-time freak pull. But I gave Frank a hearty “Thanks!†next time I saw him.

Author Bio: Syndicated gaming columnist John Grochowski has been covering the casino industry for 17 years in his weekly column distributed to newspapers and websites. He is also the author of six books, including “The Slot Machine Answer Book†and “The Video Poker Answer Book.†You can find him online at www.casinoanswerman.com. This column is an excerpt from “The Slot Machine Answer Book.â€

The following story pains me to relive, but I feel it is necessary to share. Its theme is centered on the characteristic of loyalty, which, for the most part, is an extinct commodity within the fabric of today’s society. We live in a world that often asks the question, “What have you done for me lately?†— and this inquiry may be spoken more by horseplayers than any other type of prospector.

You see, gamblers must have a short memory. This is just a requirement of the lifestyle we have chosen. If a bettor focuses too much on currency that has recently been won or lost, a possible interference may occur in the decision-making process with regard to an ensuing wager. This is why you will often see a patron berate a jockey who just cost them $5 even though the same rider brought home their 28-1 shot in the previous race.

In the 15 years I have attempted to make money by handicapping thoroughbreds, there is one personal aphorism I have broken far less than any other. I rarely back an equine that has already let me down in a previous race. Now I am aware that “playbacks†are a strong handicapping angle, especially if extenuating circumstances were present. But still, I seldom allow a thoroughbred to burn me twice. I recently learned the hard way, though, that in this game — and, for that matter, in the grand scheme of life — loyalty to a well-chosen entity can reward one with a victory that once seemed beyond the scope of tangible reality.

Each spring I travel to Tampa Bay Downs in Florida to witness the running of the Tampa Bay Derby. This past March, I made my annual pilgrimage to Oldsmar, Fla., with a great deal of confidence that when it was all said and done, I would drive home with many pictures of Benjamin Franklin in my billfold. A thoroughbred named Super Saver had been entered in the Tampa Bay Derby, and the impact this Todd Pletcher-trained Kentucky Derby hopeful had made over the course of his 2-year-old campaign was rather impressive.

Even though Super Saver was making his first start in 15 weeks and faced a field laden with raw talent, I was more than happy to accept 3/2 odds on the Tampa Bay Derby entrant who, in my estimation, held the superior class edge over the rest of the field. Super Saver made a decent run on the far turn of the Tampa Bay Derby and found room at the rail for his drive to the wire, but he hung in the final strides and placed third by three quarters of a length.

I did a majority of my handicapping for the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby on a late April flight to Las Vegas, and it probably won’t take you long to figure out who I eliminated first. Super Saver had already cost me a c-note, and even though he had notched a victory six months earlier in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, which is contested at Churchill Downs, I convinced myself the beaten favorite of the Tampa Bay Derby had no hope whatsoever to wear a blanket of roses. He had burned me, and I was not going to forget that.

I watched the Kentucky Derby within the gorgeous confines of the Rampart Hotel and Casino located just 15 minutes northwest of the Las Vegas Strip. My selection to best the field was a runner named Lookin at Lucky who, after a horrendous trip, staggered home in sixth place several lengths behind the victorious Super Saver. I am not taking anything away from the winner, but in my heart, I sincerely believe that a muddy track and an affinity for the Churchill Downs’ strip enhanced Super Saver’s performance on Derby Day. Still, I will always have to live with the fact that if I gave Super Saver a second chance, I could have walked out of the Rampart covered in rose pedals.

Two weeks later, both Super Saver and Lookin at Lucky returned to action in the Preakness Stakes. There was no question in my mind which horse would inflict their will at Pimlico Racecourse, but after losing $300 14 days earlier, Lookin at Lucky’s 2-1 odds seemed too short to settle for. After much deliberation, I wagered an array of exactas in the Preakness, keying Looking at Lucky on every single ticket. Naturally, I failed to couple the eventual winner with First Dude, a 23-1 frontrunner who managed to hold on for second place.

Not betting a straight win ticket on Lookin at Lucky in this year’s Preakness Stakes was by leaps and bounds the worst mistake of my gambling career. Super Saver tried to teach me that prematurely abandoning a horse you once liked could prove lethal, but I was too stubborn to listen. As difficult as it may be, at times a player must be willing to give a pony a second chance. Doing so might not only put some loose change in your pocket, but it may also confirm that your original handicapping methods were indeed sound. Here’s to second chances.

For more horseracing tips, visit www.SouthernGaming.com/horseracing 

Eric Vaughn Floyd is a turf writer for various gaming publications and is a consultant to several nationwide media outlets in regards to the Triple Crown. Excerpts of his gambling memoir “The Backstretch (My First Decade Playing the Game)†can be viewed at LULU.com.

Many people who frequent racetracks on a regular basis never hone the abilities necessary to become successful. They wager according to odds, favorite colors, lucky numbers, gut feelings or someone else’s advice. Veterans of the game call this method of wagering “betting blind†and will agree that it usually proves futile. They have learned from experience that acquiring an adequate literacy of the Daily Racing Form is the only way to play the horses intelligently.

There are several high-quality publications that offer thoroughbred racehorse past performances. I truly believe, however, that when it comes to accuracy and sheer volume of information, nothing can touch the DRF. (more…)

What’s It Like

Greg Bush is the senior director of operations at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Home to the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs is the most famous horseracing venue in the world, but Bush’s duties extend well beyond preparing for racing’s biggest day. From working with maintenance crews to walking horses, the operations director does a little bit of everything — and says he loves every minute of it.

Southern Gaming: Director of operations is a rather all-encompassing title. What exactly does someone in your position do on a daily basis?

Greg Bush: We do everything nobody else wants to do (laughs)! It’s never boring, I’ll tell you that. I’ve worked with wagering, pari-mutuel, maintenance, housekeeping, security, vendors, food and beverage and more. Each and all of these areas have department heads, so I’m sort of the glue that holds them all together.

SG: How long have you worked at Churchill Downs?

GB: This makes 19 years. I grew up on the racetrack. My dad ran the ticket windows here for many years, so I was destined to work around the racetrack. I love it.

SG: What other jobs have you done in the industry?

GB: I started out working seasonally. I’ve walked horses, groomed horses, been a box-seat usher … you name it. I sold newspapers at Ellis Park for my very first job.

SG: What is your job like when there is no racing?

GB: One of the greatest things about my job is that I never have the same day twice. In the off-season there’s a lot of planning. This year is going to be very busy for us. Besides the Oaks and Derby, we have six night racing events, Hullabalou in July and the Breeders’ Cup in November. With Hullabalou, there’s so much planning that is going into it — procedural stuff. Then, after that, it’s just making sure that everything goes smooth.

SG: Do you interact with the guests much?

GB: That’s probably the favorite aspect of my job. I’m a people person. I love interacting with people, so I’ll go to Simulcasting or up to the Gold Room and have lunch, and talk with the players. I’m always talking to different players and learning about them and their preferences. For example, I will find out a person likes Pick 6’s, and keep that in mind. If I see a big carryover, I’ll call them and say, “Hey, I don’t want to bother you, but I just wanted to let you know about a big carryover at Santa Anita tomorrow.†Once I did this and it really paid off. I called on my way home and told a player about a big carryover at Hollywood Park. Well, he came in and hit it winning $140,000. He came up to me and said, “If you didn’t call me, I wouldn’t have made that bet.â€

SG: You have surely had some interactions with regular high rollers, haven’t you?

GB: Yes. We used to have two individuals who would bet considerable money. We had to institute a $500 minimum window for them. I’m talking the first word out of your mouth at the window was $500. Combined, these two would bet anywhere from $100,000 on a slow day to $300,000 on a typical Saturday.

SG: From an operational perspective, Derby, as exciting as it is, has to be a real headache. How do you handle it?

GB: If we do our job right, Derby day is not that challenging. It’s the week leading up to it that’s so rough. Then the first few hours of Oaks day, you’d think we’d never done this before. The phone rings off the hook with questions. But then we tighten everything up, and from there, it’s a walk in the park.

SG: Any parting words for Southern Gaming readers about your job?

GB: Just that it’s a wonderful job, with different activities and lots of different flavors. There’s so much going on aside from the racing, so it’s always different and challenging.

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By: Jeremy White

Jeremy White is a freelance writer and editor living in Southern Indiana. He regularly covers gaming, sports, food and business for a variety of regional and national publications. He has a degree in creative writing and journalism and frequently visits Las Vegas as well as Kentuckiana gaming facilities.

The superfecta is a challenging bet found at most racetracks across the country in which the bettor is required to pick in the exact order the horses that will finish first, second, third and fourth in a particular race. Due to the difficulty involved, this bet can generate some very large payoffs. It is not uncommon to see one-dollar payoffs in excess of $10,000 on a daily basis.

Those who are successful at playing the one-dollar superfecta will bet many combinations of numbers to increase their chances of winning. Typically the amount wagered per race ranges between $24 and $120 per race. Because it is expensive to bet a one-dollar superfecta effectively, the superfecta had fallen out of favor for most horseplayers until recently.

It was Hinsdale Greyhound Park in New Hampshire that first experimented with a 10-cent minimum superfecta bet back on September 3, 2004 as sort of a gimmick to attract new fans. Not only did it catch on with the new fans, it also caught on with the regulars.

This brought the superfecta bet out of the shadows and into the light for the average horseplayer.

You will now find 10-cent superfectas at almost all racetracks across the country including greyhound, harness, quarter horse and thoroughbred
racing tracks.

Big Payoffs and Excitement Contribute to Popularity

What has made the 10-cent superfecta so popular? The answer is that it gives the average horseplayer a chance to walk home with some really big money without having to spend a lot of money. A typical 10-cent superfecta payoff will usually return somewhere between $50 and $250. But it can pay more – much more. (On several occasions, 10-cent superfecta payoffs have been in excess of $50,000.)

For most, it is just a fun bet because it doesn’t cost a lot of money to play and you can walk away with hundreds, thousands or even more. For the price of a two-dollar win ticket, you could buy twenty different 10-cent superfecta combinations. For the price of a typical six-dollar across-the-board bet, you could give yourself 60 different ways to win. In addition to all of this, it also puts additional excitement into watching races.

Getting Started with a Four-Horse Box

The simplest way to get started playing is to just pick a sequence of four numbers, bet ten cents, and cross your fingers. One way to increase your chances of winning, would be to play your four numbers in what is called a four-horse box for $2.40. By boxing your four numbers, you now win if your horses come in first, second, third and fourth in any order. This gives you twenty-four ways to win. (Although this is not a strategy I recommend, it is the simplest way to get started playing.)

In addition to the four-horse box, there are several other popular methods of play among superfecta players. In my book, The 10-Cent Superfecta Complete Guide to Wagering and Winning, I explain each method in detail and point out the advantages and disadvantages of each. The superfecta bet can be full of twists and turns for those unfamiliar with it, not only because of alternate methods of play, but also because of the variety of betting strategies and the difficulty involved in the figuring the cost of betting combinations.

Handling Betting Combinations

Any bet that is not a boxed bet is considered a betting combination. When you use a betting combination you turn the superfecta into a four-part bet in which you must handicap each of the four legs – first through fourth. Typically you try to zero in on the potential winner of the race and then work your way down by adding additional horses in each successive leg. The difficulty with betting combinations is that the cost is often hard to gauge.

Figuring Costs Quickly By Using Cost Tables

Figuring the cost of boxed bets is rather simple. Figuring the cost of betting combinations is quite another story. I feel it is important to know the cost of your bet before you get to the betting window as it helps you stay within your budget and also allows you to know what impact adding or removing a horse will have on the cost.

There are two basic formulas that are used to figure costs. However, figuring costs from formulas can get to be quite tedious. To make figuring costs much easier, it helps to use a cost table such as the ones included in my book. Using a cost table, you can quickly look up the cost of your betting combination.

You can also use cost tables to choose from among the hundreds of betting combinations displayed to find a betting combination that fits your budget and the number of horses you wish to cover in a race. Cost tables will show you how you can partially cover anywhere from five and fourteen horses in a given race.

Case The Race is a horseracing handicapping web-site that publishes a free daily handicapping report for one race at most major tracks. The report features CASE Data, member selections, and provides free race selections form professional handicappers on weekends. CASE also has a running daily winners contest and weekly articles.

Case the Race

Paul Lambrakis has been a professional handicapper for over 25 years and is currently the senior staff handicapper at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA. He provides selections for Case the Race and is also part of the Hollywood Park handicapping staff. He is the author of 10-Cent Superfecta Complete Guide to Wagering and Winning

Like most horseplayers, I can be classified as a low roller. I travel to my local racetrack with about $40 in my pocket, and then I proceed to bet $5 a race in the hopes of eventually doubling my bankroll. However, when a major race rolls around, I somewhat break out of my conservative shell. I am not suggesting that you could ever label me as a whale, but I have purchased a few tickets over the years that would make the average person’s heart race. The two largest wagers of my life were as follows: a $500 win bet on Real Quiet in the 1998 Belmont Stakes (lost in a photo finish), and a $600 win bet on Street Sense in the 2007 Preakness Stakes (lost in a photo finish). This is not to say that disaster has ensued every time I have decided to up the ante. On more than one occasion, I have pushed a few c-notes through the window and lived to tell about it.

Though these amounts might seem fantastic to many, I know there are others who would find my resume less than stimulating. In fact, I have lots of acquaintances who regularly bet $50 to $100 per race and then go in with $5,000 when the first Saturday in May rolls around. This is still small change to some, though, for the high rollers who frequent the glamorous racetracks in Florida, New York and California regularly have 10 large in play each time the gates open. I do not want to focus too much on these numbers, though, for as Albert Einstein once said, “It’s all relative.†The truth is that the term “big bet†will not yield the same definition for all of us. It just depends on what the size of one’s bank account is and what the risk threshold happens to be. In my opinion, a “big bet†equals approximately 10 percent of a gambler’s liquidity. If you are betting more than this, then you are crazy, poor or both!

Now it is time to answer a very difficult and personal question: “As a horseplayer, should you place a big bet?†Well, whether you want to believe it or not, a large percentage of big wins come as a direct result of big bets. We all dream of hitting a $2 superfecta that changes our life, but to realistically ascend into the next tax bracket, you better be ready to part with some serious cash. Before you commence a reckless trip to the ATM, though, scout the problematic territory that lies ahead, because putting $500 or more on a horserace takes guts. I am not referring to bridge-jumping either. Wagering $500 on a 1-9 shot to show only proves that you skipped the economics class when the professor lectured on risk versus reward.

If you can sustain the nerve to saunter up to the teller and turn over a week’s pay, you should know that only half the battle is over. The next dilemma concerns the timing of the play. I believe the opportune instance to bet big arrives at the advent of a major race, and here are a few reasons why. First of all, thoroughbreds of higher quality are easier to handicap. They tend to be more consistent and are usually handled by experienced connections. Secondly, the betting pools in these races can handle a sizable bet with no adverse affect on your payout. Going heavy on a runner during a weekday card at a smaller track could potentially reduce the odds on your choice by several points.

Being that the Triple Crown Series is right around the corner, now may be a good time to act if you have been mulling over the idea of “letting it ride.†The Kentucky Derby, in particular, offers the perfect scenario for a large-scale wager, and it’s not just for the two reasons listed in the previous paragraph. The most unique thing about this race is the amount of uneducated money that enters into the pools. The event is pure Americana, and even people who don’t watch a horserace all year long still wager a sawbuck or two on the “most exciting two minutes in sports.†These once-a-year bettors usually let a catchy name, lucky number or television “expert†guide their decision. This gross ignorance usually leads to inflated prices on entrants that only skilled handicappers have a chance of locating.

As lucrative as the Kentucky Derby is, I want to be sure and reiterate that it is the most difficult race in the world to win. Normally the program boasts a 20-horse field, which means if you bet a 10-1 shot to show and he comes in fourth (like I did last year), you have defeated 16 rivals but will still be in possession a worthless ticket. If this prospect sounds daunting, then you might want to hold off until the second jewel of the Triple Crown to empty your pockets. The Preakness is limited to 14 entries and almost always runs closer to form than the Kentucky Derby.

I am going to end this column with an important disclaimer, because the topic we have just discussed is not for everyone. Please never bet money you need to survive — being homeless is a horrific circumstance. Also know that these “big bets†should only be put down a few times over the course of a lifetime. I waited nine years between mine. In the end, this is gambling, and the odds are against you, but I believe whole heartedly in the following axiom, “Fate loves the fearless.â€

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By: Erick Vaughn Floyd

For more free horseracing tips, visit www.southerngaming.com/horseracing

Author Info: Eric Vaughn Floyd is a turf writer for various gaming publications and is a consultant to several nationwide media outlets in regards to the Triple Crown. Excerpts of his gambling memoir “The Backstretch (My First Decade Playing the Game)†can be viewed at LULU.com.

Don’t let Noel Michael’s self-deprecating sense of humor fool you. Michaels has worked hard for his success. The latest addition to his storied resume was his recent second-place finish in the Keeneland $40,000 Handicapping Challenge on Dec. 5 in Lexington, Ky. From a total of 405 contestants, his second-place win earned him $7,900 and a chance to compete in the NTRA National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas, where he will have a shot at winning a million dollars. As a fiction and non-fiction writer, former full-time handicapper at the Daily Racing Form (DRF), former television host, seminar instructor, current house handicapper for Nassau County Off-Track Betting in New York, and handicapper for the Premium Picks Plus Card at CaseTheRace.com, he is a horse-playing Renaissance man.
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One can definitely draw a direct parallel between a thoroughbred racehorse and a professional athlete. This is because neither entity simply walks out onto their respective playing field and performs at the highest level without first putting in an ample amount of preparation. Just as every NFL quarterback who hopes to reach the Super Bowl must endure a strict fitness regiment, the rigors of training camp and preseason scrimmages, equines who earn their keep by racing must also hone their God-given ability if they wish to visit the winner’s circle.

When a handicapper tries to access the aptitude of a particular horse, it is certainly logical to begin with an examination of the runner’s previous races. However, the difference between ultimately cashing and shredding a mutual ticket also hinges on ascertaining what an equine has been up to between their starts on the oval. To do this, a horseplayer must become versed in interpreting posted workouts that accompany the past performance lines.

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Let It Ride is a variation of 5-Card Stud Poker where the player receives three dealt cards and two community cards to make the best possible hand. The two community cards are dealt one a time, where the player can opt to “pull back†the first bet after being dealt their own three cards or the second bet after the flip of the first community card.

In Let It Ride, the $1 casino tournament bet, or scaled payout bet, is a good option to play when:

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CaseTheRace.com and Southern Gaming and Destinations Magazine have come together to provide you the latest and greatest news, tips, and handicapping tools.  Click on the more tab below to get more info from and about casetherace.com.

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As a horseplayer, I have a skeleton hanging in my closet that I am deeply ashamed of. In spite of the fact that I have dedicated a good part of my last 14 years on this Earth to honing my thoroughbred handicapping skills, I have never “signed†a ticket. For those who are not familiar with this term, a patron who cashes a ticket that returns a payoff of at least 600-1 must report their winnings to the IRS and in turn “sign†a tax form. Now don’t get me wrong, I am certainly not eager to pay more taxes. My point is that hitting a “signer†means you have knocked one out of the ballpark and, in some cases, achieved the life-changing score that all gamblers eternally yearn for.

 

There are few games inside of the gambling universe that, if conquered, can enable you to bid farewell to your job. For example, there is not a soul among us who has not dreamed of winning the lottery. Unfortunately, we all know deep down that buying a “Quick Pick†at the corner Quick Mart, and agreeing to the 13,000,000-1 odds that go along with it, only allows us to fantasize about what we would do with our own Caribbean island until the drawing is over.

 

Other strategies to strike it rich might include entering the World Series of Poker main event, betting a 10-team sports parlay or dumping the maximum amount of silver dollars required into a slot machine in order to capture a progressive jackpot. Though all of these plans hold a smidgen of merit, it takes 10 grand to enter the main event, predicting 10 sporting events correctly requires perfection within a 10-game span (yeah right!), and you are at the mercy of a computer chip when it comes to the slots.

 

Many patrons have resigned to the fact that their best opportunity for supplementing their income lies at certain casino tables where the house edge can be ground down to practically nothing. If you are playing blackjack with perfect strategy, the banker space in baccarat or the pass line at the craps table with maximum free odds, then you have indeed achieved nearly a coin flip’s chance on your checks. Even though, in these scenarios the player has done all that they can to win, unless they are betting a significant amount of money, there will be nothing to write home about.

 

As I look back at on my years of playing the ponies, I can emphatically state why I have never inked my John Hancock on the line of an IRS form. The reason is that I simply do not wager the type of ticket that it takes to do so. To hit a “signer,†one must typically cash a long-shot-laden exotic bet or take down the Pick 6.

 

I have always been a player who relied heavily on the black-and-white numbers in the Daily Racing Form in order to find value in the win pool. Even when I do go out on a limb and play a trifecta or superfecta, I seldom place a 40-1 shot on top of the ticket. These types of runners usually do not produce the type of past running lines that can convince me they are worthy of my hard-earned lettuce. That being said, I throw them out early on in the selection process. There is a problem, though, that goes along with playing the horses with this kind of mindset. Undoubtedly, I will reap profitable sessions along the way but, on the same token, I am denying myself a shot at “THE BIG MONEY.†It simply comes down to the old adage: “You can’t win if you don’t play.â€

 

It is in this part of the column that I want to emphatically say, “Proceed with caution!†Even though it is true that you are not going to cash an $8,000 trifecta unless you take a major leap of faith, chasing these types of payoffs with too much enthusiasm will lead a horseplayer straight to the poor house. A fine line between picking your spots and reckless gambling certainly exists, so I want to offer a blueprint on how to discover the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow without turning into a complete degenerate.

 

Resolve this New Year to dedicate a small percentage of your bank roll every session toward “signing†a ticket. This means that if you walk into the track with $50 to bet the card with, set aside $5 to swing for the fences. Use $45 of your budget to wager in a disciplined, rational manner, applying sound handicapping methods, but just have some fun with that other nickel. Whether it is betting lucky numbers or putting the longest shot on the board on top of a superfecta, force yourself to bet a ticket that no rational person would. The goal is to produce a betting slip that guarantees you a profit for the year.

 

Remember that you can lose 24 out of 25 bets during a session of betting thoroughbreds and still walk out of the track with heavy pockets. Scan the results from any racetrack across the country on any given day and you will find that there is a laundry list of four- and five-digit payouts for a mere $2 wager. If nothing else, play outlandish prospects in marquee races where the handle exceeds several million dollars. Remember that the $1 superfecta for last year’s Kentucky Derby with 50-1 shot Mine That Bird leading the way paid $278,503.20! Do yourself a favor this year and go for broke (conservatively speaking) — it just might change your life!

 

For more Horseracing tips, visit www.SouthernGaming.com/horseracing

 

Eric Vaughn Floyd is a turf writer for various gaming publications and is a consultant to several nationwide media outlets in regards to the Triple Crown. Excerpts of his gambling memoir “The Backstretch (My First Decade Playing the Game)†can be viewed at LULU.com.