Take me to an OTB that’s like it was 20 years ago.

[metro]

Not 20 years ago but Churchill had a great simulcast venue about 10 years ago. Just up and off of the escalators in the main entrance. One very large open area with a food court, bars, rest rooms, etc. just a short walk away. TwinSpiresClub nearby if you wanted to cash in your rewards or get a personal carrel.

The carrels were awesome too. Could watch and wager all the tracks they carry right from your seat TVG, HRN, ball games or other non horse racing channels available too. Ability to watch race replays to assist with handicapping was another great feature. Heck, you could even order food and beverages from your carrel and have someone on staff deliver it to you. It was state of the art compared to what most tracks offered.

Of course they slowly did away with them and made their main simulcast area a more generic version you see at virtually ever track. No betting carrels, just your standard room with a couple dozen TVs (big screen and smaller) and a large seating area with self serve machines along the wall. I think they realized that the majority of their regulars really didn't care how they were treated as customers, and would show up regardless.

I would go there at least a couple days a week back then. Now I might go a couple of times a year.

[ultracapper]

Originally Posted by Zman179

I would think it’s the opposite, because when you bet with cash you see the amounts dwindle or rise and your betting reflects that. Plus if you want to make additional bets, you have to get back on line again.

But with online betting the balance is just a number that goes up and down, and making an additional bet is as simple as a click of the mouse.

Kind of like the same mentality when you make a purchase with cash or credit/debit. One is more likely to spend more using a card, because you don’t actually see the money being spent. But if you see the money come straight out of your wallet, sometimes you’ll hold back on a certain purchase. I know I do, that’s why I prefer to carry cash. I spend less that way.

Whether Thask is correct or you are, I can't say. But I know my experience is I can get mighty sloppy and loose with the online acct. The times that I used to go to the off track betting site I would go there to make a specific play or 2, and that was it.

[Zman179]

Originally Posted by ultracapper

Whether Thask is correct or you are, I can't say. But I know my experience is I can get mighty sloppy and loose with the online acct. The times that I used to go to the off track betting site I would go there to make a specific play or 2, and that was it.

I won’t say that Thask is correct or I am, per se. However, it all is based on the mentality of the bettor in regards to the online balance. It’s one thing to see $96 physical dollars in your pocket and another to see: Balance: $96.00 on your online account. If the bettor can treat both scenarios in the same fashion, then he/she shouldn’t be greatly affected. But if the bettor treats the online balance as a virtual balance, then he/she is going to bet far more than if they were using cash. That is why casinos switched slot machines to paper payouts, but only if you hit the Cash Out button.

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by mountainman

There was once a guy at simulcast, reputedly a baker, who would bet 3 or 4K on 1/9 cinches and wave winning tickets in people's faces. He would actually RUN from person to person squealing : "I'm so happy for meeeeeeeeee.... soooooooo happy for MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!"

I heard somewhere that he met his demise falling into a huge oven. For real. I wonder if they did the fork test before pulling him out.

My best OTB story comes from a place on Northern Blvd in Queens.

A guy came in and started betting 200-300 a race. He cashed a few bets and whenever he won he would start screaming "Shaffer City". Apparently Shaffer City was his favorite seafood restaurant in NY. So if he cashed, that meant he was going to Shaffer City for dinner.

All of a sudden he got on a roll. He was betting every race at every active track and cashing about 50% of his plays. Most were not favorites. He was winning many thousands of dollars. It got to the point where he didn't want to wait on line anymore. So he would tell people "I'll give you a free $20 bet on my horse if you'll let me cut the line". Of course they all said "yes". When he cashed, he was tipping the clerks $20 a pop and sometimes giving them a ticket . Halfway through the day, he was still rolling, but now the entire OTB was screaming "Shaffer City" during the stretch drives. It was crazy. I never saw anyone get this hot for one day and take a whole OTB with him.

Two sad notes.

1. I think I read they eventually closed Shaffer City (I never went there)

2. I saw him a month or two later at Main Street OTB and he was betting $2 a race.

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by classhandicapper

My best OTB story comes from a place on Northern Blvd in Queens.

A guy came in and started betting 200-300 a race. He cashed a few bets and whenever he won he would start screaming "Shaefer City". Apparently Shaefer City was his favorite seafood restaurant in NY. So if he cashed, that meant he was going to Shaefer City for dinner.

All of a sudden he got on a roll. He was betting every race at every active track and cashing about 50% of his plays. Most were not favorites. He was winning many thousands of dollars. It got to the point where he didn't want to wait on line anymore. So he would tell people "I'll give you a free $20 bet on my horse if you'll let me cut the line". Of course they all said "yes". When he cashed, he was tipping the clerks $20 a pop and sometimes giving them a ticket . Halfway through the day, he was still rolling, but now the entire OTB was screaming "Shaefer City" during the stretch drives. It was crazy. I never saw anyone get this hot for one day and take a whole OTB with him.

Two sad notes.

1. I think they eventually closed Shaefer City (I never went there)

2. I saw him a month or two later at Main Street OTB and he was betting $2 a race.

Could it be that these two sad developments were related?

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

Could it be that these two sad developments were related?

I'm not sure, but could be.

It was like one of those movies where someone gets hot at the craps table and everyone is betting on him.

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by chiguy

I have tried the phone betting thing and to me it is just not a real race experience. Maybe because it is more of a hobby thing. I get no thrill from sitting at home and hitting an exacta. Hanging at the track or OTB with my friends is so much more of a good time. I also like to golf and I never understand those guys who set up a driving range in their garage.

Well, my post does say what reason would I have for ever stepping foot inside AN OTB...I didn't say racetrack...I still enjoy the track.