Charlestown

[mountainman]

I've been playing their races for several months now-at first just passing time while waiting for my son to get off work at Mnr. Recently, though, I've gotten more and more serious about it, several epiphanies having set in.

Some shoot-from-the-hip observations:

1) In many races at two and three turns, jocks begin gunning the leaders (and closest pursuers) much too early which results in lucrative melt-downs.

2) More than occasionally, the quickest horse offers great value at 4 1/2 furlongs.

3) The public too often disregards the monumental differences between ct's two-turn sprints and the three-turn 1 1/16 rt carded there. 6 1/2 furlong closers, for instance, can be seriously under-bet when cutting back from a full-blown rt race in which they performed in a dull manner or failed to sustain an interior move. ( i caught a 30-1 closer sat night turning back from a 1 1/16 to land in a speed-laden 6 1/2 furlong race)

4) CT-based wv breds competing in non-restricted races are NEVER correctly assessed, classified, or priced on the board. They are always-and I mean ALWAYS either overrated or under-estimated.

5) A subtle anti-rail trend often sets in, and the public never seems to pick up on it.

I'm starting to like this track a lot, which will lead to lots of double sessions this winter. Mahoning by day/ Charlestown after dark.

* Shout out to Gary Johnson, the architect of some legendary pick 6 scores and a former participant on the National handicapping tour, for saving me tons of work by sharing his bias notes on the Mahoning meet to date. Gary is on the short list of handicappers I would accept this info from without question. I played mvr for the first time this year on sat, and now need only keep the bias notes up to date.

[Elkchester Road]

Originally Posted by mountainman

I've been playing their races for several months now-at first just passing time while waiting for my son to get off work at Mnr. Recently, though, I've gotten more and more serious about it, several epiphanies having set in.

Some shoot-from-the-hip observations:

1) In many races at two and three turns, jocks begin gunning the leaders (and closest pursuers) much too early which results in lucrative melt-downs.

2) More than occasionally, the quickest horse offers great value at 4 1/2 furlongs.

3) The public too often disregards the monumental differences between ct's two-turn sprints and the three-turn 1 1/16 rt carded there. 6 1/2 furlong closers, for instance, can be seriously under-bet when cutting back from a full-blown rt race in which they performed in a dull manner or failed to sustain an interior move. ( i caught a 30-1 closer sat night turning back from a 1 1/16 to land in a speed-laden 6 1/2 furlong race)

4) CT-based wv breds competing in non-restricted races are NEVER correctly assessed, classified, or priced on the board. They are always-and I mean ALWAYS either overrated or under-estimated.

5) A subtle anti-rail trend often sets in, and the public never seems to pick up on it.

I'm starting to like this track a lot, which will lead to lots of double sessions this winter. Mahoning by day/ Charlestown after dark.

* Shout out to Gary Johnson, the architect of some legendary pick 6 scores and a former participant on the National handicapping tour, for saving me tons of work by sharing his bias notes on the Mahoning meet to date. Gary is on the short list of handicappers I would accept this info from without question. I played mvr for the first time this year on sat, and now need only keep the bias notes up to date.

Most Players have a go-to track that they do better at than others they bet. Mine is Charles Town. I guess it is a kind of "mind's eye" thing. I can (and have) post(ed) a Black number over a period of time at Charles Town. Currently, I cannot do that at any other Track.

As usual, Mark...great post.

[proximity]

i think one night on the way out of there the nearby blair witch cast a spell on me because i've always had a strange fascination with the place?

some general trends over the years:

1. underbet--- certain layoff horses. (the younger the better)

2. underbet---certain stretch outs. (one area where i've been too conservative there)

3. proximity class ratings--- a proprietary "quick and dirty" method when you're speeding to charles town after consecutive double shifts and only a flair pen in your pocket.

4. shippers: know when to hold em and know when to fold em.... especially when to fold em. i've probably been sucked in too many times...

5. fighting the fog--- you're cruising along but gradually start to become too comfortable. certain jockeys start beating you all the time and you suddenly can't win with others. not even the proximity class ratings can bail you out. sometimes a well timed break is refreshing.

first of a four part series on the history:

YouTube

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by Elkchester Road

Most Players have a go-to track that they do better at than others they bet. Mine is Charles Town.

Guess which one mine was?


I hope to be trying out CT soon, in person. I just need the Buffalo Bills to beat the Patriots on Sunday, then beat Atlanta and the Jets in Buffalo. Or have New England lose again after losing to the Bills. I have a division winner parlay bet I made there in the sportsbook. I played CT years ago on TVG, I was pretty erratic. I think I have been there a half dozen times, but never bet the horses in person.

[Michael]

Originally Posted by mountainman

I'm starting to like this track a lot, which will lead to lots of double sessions this winter. Mahoning by day/ Charlestown after dark.

I use to play the NYRA circuit during the day and mountaineer at night. Playing the mountain allowed me to see rain coming to NY and cap in advance knowing full well it was going to be a sloppy track.

Truth be told... my best score at the mountain was buying stock at like $4.50. I was working at a small accounting firm when the mortgage and banking crisis was happening. (I was auditing mortgage banks at the time - it was a disaster ) The stock dropped to $1 or $2... something really cheap and I averaged in. Then I rode it for a crazy ride through buyouts and sale of properties, and somehow I now own shares of Caesars. ($93 at the moment) I sold a large portion of my position at like $45 sadly.

It was likely a dumb buy but I bought shares because I loved watching Mark and Nancy

I don't play the mountain much anymore but I do check in every so often. Lucky to have caught Wee Monie Creek the other night. Felt like good old times but without McMichael there.

I stopped playing the MNR after Dale passed.... I went on to a different style of capping using half computer half just reading the pps. (my new style didn't work well at mnr) I think to really do well at the mountain you have to just read the past performances and to see what's really under the hood. More art then science so to speak.

Anyway Merry Christmas Mark... Hope all is well

[ElKabong]

Originally Posted by Michael

Truth be told... my best score at the mountain was buying stock at like $4.50. I was working at a small accounting firm when the mortgage and banking crisis was happening. (I was auditing mortgage banks at the time - it was a disaster ) The stock dropped to $1 or $2... something really cheap and I averaged in. Then I rode it for a crazy ride through buyouts and sale of properties, and somehow I now own shares of Caesars. ($93 at the moment) I sold a large portion of my position at like $45 sadly.

:

Good for you, and congratulations!!

[FakeNameChanged]

Originally Posted by Elkchester Road

Most Players have a go-to track that they do better at than others they bet. Mine is Charles Town. I guess it is a kind of "mind's eye" thing. I can (and have) post(ed) a Black number over a period of time at Charles Town. Currently, I cannot do that at any other Track.

As usual, Mark...great post.

An old accountant crony that loved CT used to school me on how to play CT routers coming to PENN. Their speed numbers always looked inferior, but you could get good prices at times against the Penn-based routers. He mostly followed the good trainers shipping to Penn. The CT sprinters appeared to have a tougher time at Penn.

[mountainman]

Originally Posted by Elkchester Road

Most Players have a go-to track that they do better at than others they bet. Mine is Charles Town. I guess it is a kind of "mind's eye" thing. I can (and have) post(ed) a Black number over a period of time at Charles Town. Currently, I cannot do that at any other Track.

As usual, Mark...great post.

Hi, Elk. Geeeez, it took me soooo long to start simply turning my back on tracks that maul me. Too much ego for far too long. Since I started focusing 5 or 6 years back on just I for 2 well-familiar tracks, I've been able to count on making some much-needed money when I'm off work for the winter.

[mountainman]

Originally Posted by Michael

I use to play the NYRA circuit during the day and mountaineer at night. Playing the mountain allowed me to see rain coming to NY and cap in advance knowing full well it was going to be a sloppy track.

Truth be told... my best score at the mountain was buying stock at like $4.50. I was working at a small accounting firm when the mortgage and banking crisis was happening. (I was auditing mortgage banks at the time - it was a disaster ) The stock dropped to $1 or $2... something really cheap and I averaged in. Then I rode it for a crazy ride through buyouts and sale of properties, and somehow I now own shares of Caesars. ($93 at the moment) I sold a large portion of my position at like $45 sadly.

It was likely a dumb buy but I bought shares because I loved watching Mark and Nancy

I don't play the mountain much anymore but I do check in every so often. Lucky to have caught Wee Monie Creek the other night. Felt like good old times but without McMichael there.

I stopped playing the MNR after Dale passed.... I went on to a different style of capping using half computer half just reading the pps. (my new style didn't work well at mnr) I think to really do well at the mountain you have to just read the past performances and to see what's really under the hood. More art then science so to speak.

Anyway Merry Christmas Mark... Hope all is well

Tx for the response, Mike. Merry Xmas !

[mountainman]

Originally Posted by mountainman

* Shout out to Gary Johnson, the architect of some legendary pick 6 scores and a former participant on the National handicapping tour, for saving me tons of work by sharing his bias notes on the Mahoning meet to date. Gary is on the short list of handicappers I would accept this info from without question. I played mvr for the first time this year on sat, and now need only keep the bias notes up to date.

Just two sessions of playing mvr have MORE than affirmed the (deadly) accuracy of Gary's bias notes. Those succinct observations conveyed from him to save me the time consuming effort of backtracking through endless charts and replays before diving in have already assisted me in making two separate scores.

[Elkchester Road]

Originally Posted by Inner Dirt

Guess which one mine was?


I hope to be trying out CT soon, in person. I just need the Buffalo Bills to beat the Patriots on Sunday, then beat Atlanta and the Jets in Buffalo. Or have New England lose again after losing to the Bills. I have a division winner parlay bet I made there in the sportsbook. I played CT years ago on TVG, I was pretty erratic. I think I have been there a half dozen times, but never bet the horses in person.

I hope they get there for you.

Inner Dirt!!!

[Elkchester Road]

Originally Posted by mountainman

Hi, Elk. Geeeez, it took me soooo long to start simply turning my back on tracks that maul me. Too much ego for far too long. Since I started focusing 5 or 6 years back on just I for 2 well-familiar tracks, I've been able to count on making some much-needed money when I'm off work for the winter.

Absolutely, Mark. That is great to hear.

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by Elkchester Road

I hope they get there for you.

Inner Dirt!!!

Thanks for the well wishes.