What is a "good bet" thread on the Wizard's forum

[Dan Druff]

The reason I made the bet, by the way, was because I noticed it was one of those rare cases where the track would lose money (if Gentlemen finished 1st or 2nd), despite the betting being parimutuel.

This was due to the fact that the odds could not fall below 1:20.

So it was one of the rare times when you were actually betting against the house, and it seemed like way better than a 95% lock for Gentlemen to win.

I always wondered if the track recognized this, and someone there convinced them to let Gentlemen run, despite his health issues.

[regnis]

The reason I made the bet, by the way, was because I noticed it was one of those rare cases where the track would lose money (if Gentlemen finished 1st or 2nd), despite the betting being parimutuel.

This was due to the fact that the odds could not fall below 1:20.

So it was one of the rare times when you were actually betting against the house, and it seemed like way better than a 95% lock for Gentlemen to win.

I always wondered if the track recognized this, and someone there convinced them to let Gentlemen run, despite his health issues.

Are you implying that a race may not have been legit?? How can you say that---the race track would lose its license.

Obviously, I am saying this tongue in cheek, but why does it sound so matter of fact to believe that a race may be rigged but not a slot machine. They are both subject to licensing requirements. Now I know of many fixed races and of the many schemes and methods to fix races. That has become part of the handicapping process---you have to account for the known cheaters and determine what they are thinking and when they are trying or not trying to win. In the old days, when there was only one trifecta each night at the harness track, we would all be hovering around the tellers a couple minutes before post awaiting the numbers for that trifecta to come up from the messenger and then we'd bet it down to nothing. It was almost self defeating---there were at least 10 of us all waiting for the numbers. One driver was killed for winning when he was not supposed to, and he was our primary info guy. I think he won by accident.


But I for one do not trust the casinos either. I trusted them when they were run by the mob, but not now that they are run by big corporations that really know how to cheat.

[regnis]

The best scam was called "flashing". I don't know if it was available anywhere else, but at Maywood Park, which is now closed, speed dominated because it was a small half mile track with tight turns. The first horse out of the gate would usually win. There was also about a 10 second delay between the start of the race and the tote machines locking. So we had a spotter who would flash the first horse out to me who would flash it to our teller (he would hang a closed sign at his station a minute before post) who would punch $50 win tickets (sometimes more if we were pigs) until it locked. We didn't want to do bigger tickets to avoid detection. Some nights due to wind, rain, etc. the speed was no good and we couldn't play. But most nights it worked.

This lasted about 2 years.

[Alan Mendelson]

In Florida jai alai was often considered to be rigged.

And I found that in dog races, the dog in the center gate position often won because it was closest to the "rabbit." I discovered that in high school when I used to go to the dog races with my aunt and uncle. Of course that was based on my own limited observation... but it seemed to win money for my aunt and uncle.

[regnis]

Alan-in dog racing, it was mostly just controlled with food and water, or increases and decreases in the supply of food and water, to cause the dog to run faster or slower.

A friend of mine adopted a retired greyhound. He also had a bird. The bird flew out of the cage and I don't have to tell you what happened.

[redietz]

Are you implying that a race may not have been legit?? How can you say that---the race track would lose its license.

Obviously, I am saying this tongue in cheek, but why does it sound so matter of fact to believe that a race may be rigged but not a slot machine. They are both subject to licensing requirements. Now I know of many fixed races and of the many schemes and methods to fix races. That has become part of the handicapping process---you have to account for the known cheaters and determine what they are thinking and when they are trying or not trying to win. In the old days, when there was only one trifecta each night at the harness track, we would all be hovering around the tellers a couple minutes before post awaiting the numbers for that trifecta to come up from the messenger and then we'd bet it down to nothing. It was almost self defeating---there were at least 10 of us all waiting for the numbers. One driver was killed for winning when he was not supposed to, and he was our primary info guy. I think he won by accident.


But I for one do not trust the casinos either. I trusted them when they were run by the mob, but not now that they are run by big corporations that really know how to cheat.

Regnis knows whereof he speaks.

Much tougher to fix a race in Hong Kong, where you are called before a board and made to explain what happened if your horse dramatically underperforms.

[regnis]

Here are two recent suspensions in Hong Kong and Singapore. They can determine if a jockey has tried his best (very subjective) and will suspend if they feel the jockey hasn't performed. In the U.S.--a slap on the wrist and a small fine.

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ra...t_fool_around/

http://www.drf.com/news/singapore-of...lores-one-year


Also, in the U.S., each race track is supposed to honor the suspensions imposed by another track so that the jockey can't just move to another track and continue to ride. That was not the case with Flores who came back and was immediately riding here. FYI--Flores is not considered to be a cheater here and any bad rides may be because he is washed up.