Saratoga 2009 Public Handicappers' Scorecard: FINAL
 

http://www.equidaily.com/bestbet/saratog2.html

Top 5 shown. For complete list click on the link!

Excerpt:

Our $671.50 ROI -- while not enough to "beat-the-meet", did best five of the eight handicappers that topped us with winners-on-top and provided ROI numbers, and placed us at #4 among the eighteen handicappers that provided ROI info. And frankly, we were just a hop-skip-and a jump from "beating-the-meet". This past Thursday our top pick in the 2nd race ran second at 21.90-1. And on Saturday we goofed and left the 12th race off of the page -- missing a $6.70 winner [although, for verification, we used the horse on the Bankroll Page]. A little racing luck -- and a little less absent-mindedness -- and we have $50.50 more in the bank and we're a 2-1 shot away from having a positive ROI for the season. But -- that's what makes it interesting...

Note: Discrepancies in total number of races played is due to some handicappers losing races due to scratches.

ALSO: Dollar amounts shown are the ROI if a $2 win-bet was placed on each handicapper's top selection. Not all handicappers supplied this information.

Matt Graves
Albany Times Union 114-361 ... $742.20

Bill Taylor
Saratogian 114-362

Tom Cavanagh
NY Daily News 113-365 ... $692.30

Mark Cusano
Daily [Schenectady] Gazette 113-365

Brien Bouyea
Saratogian 108-361

Andy,

I'm sure you agree that win % is useless. Place and show, also. Why bother ?

I'm trying to help take a little heat off TLG!

Not that he needs my help in any way!

That's a nice commercial for those of us who think takeout needs to be lowered.

The NY Post had its yearly "Battle of Saratoga" in which 4 "experts" could make any type of wager they wanted and didn't have to bet every race. They all went down the toilet.

We all didn't go down the toilet. Clancy won and I was second. The two of us alternated for the lead until Clancy pulled away at the end. But I wouldn't call it going down the toilet.

John DaSilva

I really like the NY Post format of $50 a day, wager whatever you choose...
thought you had Sean in your sights, John.. still,a Solid 2nd, well done!
You Locked into that Quinella/Exacta combo for a while; I bet of lot of
the Picnic Patrons that comb the public selections for bets liked that wager.
It just 'feels safer' for a lot of them.

Thanks Bob. I thought I was gonna put away Clancy on Woodward day. I loved Copper Cascade and I thought I had all of the possible winning exactas covered but freakin Smart Enuf had to ruin it for me. I'll get him next year.

I was looking at those "contests" they have in the Post and the News - each guy gets a bankroll, they pick what they want everyday......boy, those guys are not too good! I can see having to pick every race everyday as being impossible, but when they get to cherry pick........not impressed. I would think if you didn't increase the bankroll, you were a waste of time. We have guys here who could do far better.

When did winning become so easy?

Well, if you think you can do better, lets see you make selections and plays 24 hours before the races are run. With no scratches and unknown track conditions and having a filing deadline, it isn't as easy as you think.

I wonder if a one minute to post value bettor might have an advantage over you.:confused:

I think losing a large percentage of the bankroll when you can cherry pick races is a waste of time as a month long feature. Like the weather, you know, they say sunny and we get flooded out, you tend to lose interest. I never said it was easy, but these guys are paid to handicap. Pay me their salary and I'll give it a shot!

Not as much as a one minute AFTER post bettor.:eek:

It actually confirms what I've felt for a long time: Saratoga isn't a track at which to bet serious money.

I know some guys, here, claim to do great there, but, for the most part, it's a crap shoot.

This outcome, no one showing a profit, isn't an anamoly, it pretty much happens every year.