What does 1 Minute to Post mean?

[levinmpa]

When I started playing the races 40+ years ago, 1 Minute to Post meant the horses would reach the gate in 1 minute. Players knew how much time they had and acted accordingly to get there wagers in. Wait too long and you would get shut out. This always made sense to me.

Over the past few years, 1 Minute to Post might mean 1 minute, in the case of NYRA, or it might mean 5, 6 or even 7 minutes before the field reaches the gate at most other tracks. I understand tracks wanting to give extra time for bettors in certain situations. For example, at the start of a Pick Six with a large carryover. Or the start of a Pick 4 on a big handle day.

My problem with this change to unknown post times is that it causes more shutouts than it prevents. Because of the computer batch bettors and huge late odds changes, I want to wait as long as I possibly can to make a wager. When I don't know the actual post time, it's very difficult to do when races are running on top of each other.

Most players these days are playing from home and don't have the benefit of watching multiple screens like at a simulcast facility. I see 0 minutes to post and I have no idea how close to post time it is unless getting a visual of the field. It's frustrating and I don't really understand what the point of it is.

Can anyone explain to me why nearly all tracks don't post an accurate MTP? How we got to this point, and who is benefiting from it?

[Andy Asaro]

It's meaningless

One thing I loved about NYRA was that they'd run on time or even 30 seconds early (or so it seemed) but now they're still OK but drag way more often than they did 5 years ago IMO

[SBD400]

As someone who is always on time, this drives me crazy. Run the race at the designated post time. Are they really generating more handle by doing this? Even so, it’s so digengenious.

[Tom]

At GP, it means the horses will load in about 20 minutes.

[wisconsin]

Oaklawn, Keeneland, Turfway and Mahoning Valley all seem to adhere to a real post time. Tampa, Gulfstream, Aqueduct and every harness track in North America are on some sort of different 1 minute to post definition.

[cj]

Why they do it is easy, when the timer reaches 0 mtp, they stay at the top of the "next up" track list on ADWs until the race goes off.

[cj]

Originally Posted by wisconsin

Oaklawn, Keeneland, Turfway and Mahoning Valley all seem to adhere to a real post time. Tampa, Gulfstream, Aqueduct and every harness track in North America are on some sort of different 1 minute to post definition.

I don't believe Oaklawn is really adhering much any longer, not when I watch this year.

[ranchwest]

It means the same thing as when a Baptist preacher places his watch on the pulpit.

I guess it doesn't upset me because my early days were at Delta Downs, where 25 to 50 years ago the announcement of post time sent patrons to the windows, knowing they might have only 5 minutes to wager.

[dilanesp]

One minute to post means about 3-4 minutes until the last of the computer wagering teams get their bets in 20 seconds into the race.

[PalaceOfFortLarned]

Depends on the track.

At Gulfstream, you start 'capping the race with 0 MTP.

[porchy44]

At some tracks, 1 MTP means the horses are in the same County as the gate.

My simulcast buddy always says they are perp walking.

[comet52]

Well you could bet Australian races. Most of them go off at post time unless a horse acts up, etc. Some even seem to go a bit early. Their goal seems to be, when it's 1 minute to post, they are actually going to jump in one minute. Doesn't always work out but they try.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by porchy44

At some tracks, 1 MTP means the horses are in the same County as the gate.

My simulcast buddy always says they are perp walking.

Perp walk...

[jimmyb]

Originally Posted by Tom

At GP, it means the horses will load in about 20 minutes.

yep, GP is the worst. Then, after 20 minutes, they do another 5 minute circle jerk at the gate

[Thomas Roulston]

Conceptually, it means between 1:00 and 1:59 before the gate actually opens.