Gambling & Horse Racing

[Mike_412]

I got into the game at 18. Worked with a guy that always talked about playing superfectas at the Meadowlands. I didn't pay it much attention. One night a buddy and I went out trying to get into some bars with quite possibly the world's worst fake ids. After being rejected at about 4 different places, I suggested to my friend to let's go and check out the Meadowlands and see what it's all about. There were only 2 races left, but it was all over for me. The bug bit me in a big way.

I always loved numbers and definitely enjoyed the gambling aspect of the game. As time went on, I fell in love with the sport as a whole, from both a gambling and horse perspective.

The best thing about it is that at the time I had no idea my Dad was a horseplayer many years ago. He had gotten away from it for a good 20 years with having a family and traveling a lot for work. My interest in the game brought him back into it and we started going to the track on weekends a couple of times a month. The running joke at the time from my Mom was that I was the bad influence. Occasional Father/Son weekends at the track going on 13 years now. Bad/good influence at this point probably depends on whether we crush or get crushed. Regardless, it truly is the greatest game.

[bigmack]

Originally Posted by chickenhead

free money just waiting to be scooped up made a big impression on an 8 yr old.

The Old Man played in the NFL and took you to the track? Some guys have all the luck.

Cue Rod Stewart.

Originally Posted by Mike_412

One night a buddy and I went out trying to get into some bars with quite possibly the world's worst fake ids.

[Aerocraft67]

No back-when-I-was-a-young-lad tale here. About a year ago at the hardly formative age of 40, I was exploring the channels on our recently souped-up TV service and came across TVG and HRTV for the first time. Simply seeing the races and commentary available regularly on TV sparked my interest. It subsequently occurred to me that my adopted home state of Maryland has a thoroughbred racing heritage (about which I was theretofore only dimly aware). So not only could I wager on races securely and legally via ADW, but also visit the local track right and proper (at least for now). The more I looked into it, the more I intrigued I got, and I've been pursing the pastime with vigor ever since.

Horse racing appeals on several levels. Obscure, old-timey, roguish charm, face-value racing excitement, both quantitative and qualitative performance analysis, risk/probability assessment, and wagering strategy. Hard to say what I like most, but I've been keen on the wagering dimension lately. The smart and eccentric commentary on this board is a big plus, too. Even the industry dynamic is interesting, albeit macabre.

In some ways, horse racing is like following any sport, but in other ways, the analysis and wagering make it much more engaging. It incorporates sophisticated techniques on the one hand, yet it's a complete anachronism on the other. But for me, it's definitely captivating, even without early indoctrination and a lifetime familiarity.

I like to throw dice as much as the next guy, but only for the occasional romp at the casino every few years. Legal and convenient sports betting is not a practical option, but I might pursue it if it was. Although I've since lost interest in poker (ironically, as it became wildly popular), I've enjoyed the game, although as much as a social event as a wagering endeavor. Lottery is pretty distinct from game wagers; nothing wrong with buying a cheap daydream from time to time I guess, but not something I do. Despite the difficult obstacles to success, the principle of parimutuel wagering makes betting thoroughbreds infinitely more engaging than lottery and casino games.

As a new player, it seems I'm a very small segment of the population. That's a shame, although I understand there are many reasons why.

[tzipi]

Originally Posted by bigmack

The Old Man played in the NFL and took you to the track? Some guys have all the luck.

Cue Rod Stewart.

. Good name. Good movie.

"McLovin, what kind of name is that! One name? Who are you trying to be an Irish R&B singer? Who are you? Seal?" Good stuff.

[bigmack]

Originally Posted by Aerocraft67

Horse racing appeals on several levels. Obscure, old-timey, roguish charm, face-value racing excitement, both quantitative and qualitative performance analysis, risk/probability assessment, and wagering strategy. Hard to say what I like most, but I've been keen on the wagering dimension lately. The smart and eccentric commentary on this board is a big plus, too. Even the industry dynamic is interesting, albeit macabre.

Interesting take, particularly from a recent constituent.

Might I ax what you use to handicap - paper or software?

[Aerocraft67]

Originally Posted by bigmack

Interesting take, particularly from a recent constituent.

Might I ax what you use to handicap - paper or software?

I just use BRIS PPs that come free with Twinspires. Would be nice to at least export that data into a spreadsheet to sort and make simple calculations, but can't find anything native to the Mac (even Excel-based stuff), and I haven't gotten around to setting up the parallel Windows software to accommodate what's out there. The fancier software is beyond my budget for now.

[bane]

When I was a toddler my Dad trained off the farm in East Texas and ran in LA, mainly LAD's meet. My mother owned one of the few english tack shops in East Texas and let's jsut say it was in my blood. Even when I was 5 and my dad moved away from it (even though we had 88's Texas Champion Older Mare) my love laid dormaint until for some reason in high school it showed itself again. I went to bed with stories of Secretariat, Black Gold, Seabiscuit (way before the movie came out) and John Henry.

Everytime I go anywhere I always stop at the track, even if it's not running. If I make a road trip and we have time I stop by the track.

Still want to visit as many tracks as I can just to say I did it.

[bigmack]

Originally Posted by Aerocraft67

I just use BRIS PPs that come free with Twinspires. Would be nice to at least export that data into a spreadsheet to sort and make simple calculations, but can't find anything native to the Mac (even Excel-based stuff), and I haven't gotten around to setting up the parallel Windows software to accommodate what's out there. The fancier software is beyond my budget for now.

What kind of calc's you lookin' to make and how did you learn of their existence?

[Aerocraft67]

Originally Posted by bigmack

What kind of calc's you lookin' to make and how did you learn of their existence?

Nothing fancy, really; no sense compounding errors inherent in the figures. Just being able to sort, rank, and highlight the different figures would be helpful. The Ultimate Race Summary does most of this, but would be nice to have a little more flexibility.

[PaceAdvantage]

Someone dragged me to the old Roosevelt Raceway while I was young and impressionable.

What sustains me is the drive to develop and maintain a consistent method of extracting profits...

[David-LV]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

Someone dragged me to the old Roosevelt Raceway while I was young and impressionable.

What sustains me is the drive to develop and maintain a consistent method of extracting profits...

Same with me, I worked on the American Stock Exchange as a wire clerk for Bache and Co. out of high school in 1957.
There was a clerk that I became friendly with that worked for Purcell, Graham,
One night in early Sept. 1957 Big Philly ask me to go to Roosevelt Raceway with him.
My first bet was on a horse called Black Andy who won.
It has been all downhill since, I left a lot of cash at Roosevelt And Yonkers between 1957 and 1972. I am still trying to find the holy grail.

__________
David-LV

[Pell Mell]

Started out running errands for bookies, like picking up the scratch sheet, getting coffee, etc. back around 1948. Then went to running the numbers and then started sitting.

Was always around gamblers and horse players. Got to know some old time really good handicappers and been at it ever since.

[bigmack]

Originally Posted by Pell Mell

Started out running errands for bookies, like picking up the scratch sheet, getting coffee, etc. back around 1948. Then went to running the numbers and then started sitting.

Smokes, asbestos, and running errands for bookies in '48. That's rich.

Write a book. I'd read it.