Today marks the first anniversary of Railbird, which started with this post:
If only I’d had Brad Free’s excellent “Handicapping 101” (DRF Press) when I started trying to learn this game. The chapter on form alone elicited many, many aha! moments. My only quibble (and it’s one I have with almost all handicapping books) is with his disdain for place and show betting. “Wagering to place and show is futile,” Free writes. Oh, but such bets can be part of a sound wagering strategy. When judiciously made, they can pay off quite nicely. Example: In race two at Suffolk Downs on June 15, the favorite, Brickaback, was at 1-1 on the board, despite his listless appearance in the paddock. But Got a Ticket looked lively and had odds of 18-1. A quick perusal of his past performances showed there was no way he would win, and he wasn’t a too likely second, but he was a very reasonable third, which is exactly what he ran, paying a lovely $17.80 — making a show bet in this race a better investment than a win bet on the second favorite, Metfleet, who returned a mere $8.80.
Related: Steven Crist explains why a place bet on Smarty Jones in the Belmont would have made sense (Daily Racing Form).
I’m a little embarrassed. Juvenilia, you know.
Thanks to everyone for visiting, and a special thank you to those who have taken time to send stories, photos, links, compliments, and suggestions. I can’t tell you how much fun I’ve had hearing from so many other racing fans. This has been a great year, and I’m looking forward to celebrating a second anniversary.
Posted by JC in Miscellany on 06/17/2005 @ 4:05 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
– Gary West picks up a meme that’s been floating around since Afleet Alex won the Preakness: Racing may be called by the sport of kings, but it’s really the sport of commoners. “Horse racing clearly and emphatically has become the most democratic of sports.” (ST)
– Scrappy T is at Colonial Downs. Trainer Robbie Bailes says the Preakness runner up could start in the Colonial Turf Cup on June 25 or the Virginia Derby on July 16. (Press)
– Giacomo will have surgery for a bone chip in his left ankle next Thursday. Trainer John Shirreffs say the Derby winner is out for the rest of the year, but is hopeful he’ll return to racing as a four-year-old (DRF) … Adena Springs has bought a majority interest in the the breeding rights to Giacomo. He’ll be retired to stud in Kentucky at a later date. (BH)
– NYRA announced an increase in claiming race purses. It’s hoped the bigger purses will attract bigger fields. NYRA also announced that it has a definite agreement with MGM to manage the Aqueduct video lottery lounge, which is expected to open in 2006. (NYP)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com
Posted by JC in Miscellany on 06/17/2005 @ 4:00 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
New York state comptroller Alan Hevesi blasted NYRA in a financial audit issued yesterday for violating NYRA and state rules in awarding contracts and said the organization had “mismanaged” and “squandered” money. Among Hevesi’s findings: that 38 out of 58 NYRA contracts were not competitively bid on, including one for almost $800,000 that was awarded to former chairman Barry Schwartz’s son-in-law for web services; that NYRA paid more than $400,000 in horse transport charges for board members and other thorougbred owners; and that invoices for services performed by contractors were missing. “The management was awful,” said Hevesi, although he took care to praise current management for their cooperation with the monitoring firm of Getnick & Getnick and the efforts made to reform the organization. (Blood-Horse)
The Times-Union reports that the biggest contract awarded without following procedure was ignored by the auditors.
In the wake of this latest bad news about NYRA, Paul Moran opines: “It has become painfully apparent in what are perhaps the darkest days that the racing game in New York has ever seen, that the New York Racing Association no longer works, that the partnership of racing and government is dysfunctional and that a wholesale restructuring that makes the operation of Belmont Park, Saratoga and Aqueduct a private enterprise is the only way to save the game.” (Newday)
Posted by JC in NY Racing Issues on 06/16/2005 @ 9:45 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter
