#Horseplayers

"“Horseplayers” has moments that exemplify how much the typical handicapper loves the equine athletes, and this is an important element to convey to the audience. One of the most misunderstood notions about us is that the horse is nothing more than a means to an end, a number on a Racing Form. After all, we’re just degenerates, right? I’ve been around some hardened gamblers and seen them cry when a horse breaks down – it means something to most horseplayers.

In one of the episodes, Peter Rotondo Sr. is practically moved to tears recalling having seen Secretariat live at Belmont Park in 1973. This is a big part of why we love the game, and this shouldn’t be forgotten. We all have a goose bump moment like that; my first was Inside Information winning the Distaff in 1995. Every so often I watch Rachel Alexandra’s Kentucky Oaks and can feel the hairs stand up on my neck."

Read more at the Paulick Report

Bizarre: The Gulfstream Park DQ Winner Hits for $180k. But Had No Chance at a Pool Shot.

The Gulfstream DQ story is one that keeps on giving. Trot Insider tracked down the man who benefited from the disqualification last weekend of the $2 million dollar Rainbow Six at Gulfstream. He hit for $183,000. 

One man or woman's nightmare, was another man's gain.

However, notice the payout of $183,000. The Rainbow Six consolation only paid $36,659.22 for a 20-cent bet.

This man took a $72 ticket for a dollar. And hit the bet five times. If he took it for twenty cents  and he was the only winner - he wins the whole pool.

As Daryl Kaplan put it on twitter.....

Wonder how many others are playing $1 tickets not realizing they are excluding themselves from $1.4 million? @Pullthepocket @jeffporchak
— Darryl Kaplan (@DarrylKaplan) February 26, 2014

Not only one bettor missed out on a jackpot score of a lifetime. The bettor with this $1 ticket never even had a chance.

Note: The Horseplayer Monthly was released today. If you have not read it, it's free, and it's 32 pages of handicapping insight, opinion, and stats.  You can get it right here. 

March 2014 Edition of the Free Horseplayer Monthly Is Released

We're proud to release the New Horseplayer Monthly e-magazine. It's well over 30 pages of handicapping articles, stats and opinion. Click here to download it (pdf) for free. 

HANA Handicapping Contest Runner-Up To Play for $20,000 donation to Standardbred Horse Rescue

Note: A sincere thank you from all of us to the Meadowlands for making this happen. Thank you for taking on the challenge, Rusty - The HANA Board


East Rutherford, NJ --- When the world’s top horseplayers convene at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment in East Rutherford, N.J., on April 19 to compete in the World Harness Handicapping Championship, an estimated prize pool of more than $50,000 will be up for grabs.
But one prominent player won’t be playing for himself; he’ll be playing for the health and care of retired racehorses.

Rusty Nash, recently the runner-up in the Horseplayers Association of North America harness handicapping tournament, was given a seat in the WHHC by the Meadowlands ($800 value) in exchange for agreeing to donate any winnings in the event to a Standardbred rescue organization. The first place prize in the WHHC is $20,000.

"Rusty Nash has been a valued player in previous Meadowlands contests and we are happy that he received the $800 charity buy-in to the WHHC final," said Rachel Ryan, WHHC contest director. "The Meadowlands and HANA have enjoyed a strong partnership and have worked together to promote racing and wagering at the Meadowlands as well as supporting horse retirement and rescue charities. This event is the premier betting contest for harness players in North America and we hope this sparks further interest in the World Harness Handicapping Championship."

"The HANA Harness Handicapping Contest has raised -- through its sponsors -- over $7,000 for retired racehorses the past two years," said HANA Harness director Allan Schott. "The Meadowlands stepping up to the plate to give one of its top handicappers the chance to earn even more for the horses is truly appreciated. We wish Rusty, as well as all the participants in the World Harness Handicapping Championship, good luck."

The WHHC is a one-day tournament, with a welcome reception the evening prior.

Players may earn a seat in the WHHC through a qualifying event at a partner wagering outlet or through direct $800 buy-in. The WHHC contest format requires players to bet 10 races -- their choice of seven Meadowlands races, plus three designated mandatory races from partner tracks. Players keep all pari-mutuel winnings. Prize payouts are to the Top 10, with an estimated prize pool of $50,000.

Registration deadline is 10 p.m. on Thursday (April 17). For the contest entry form and complete rules visit www.PlayMeadowlands.com.

Four Things We Learned From the Gulfstream Pick 6 DQ

In the Gulfstream bad-beat million plus dollar DQ on Saturday, I think we learned a few things.

Here's a short list.

1. For a three million dollar stakes race, for example, for fans in Dubai, the people affected in the outcome for $1.8 million or so, plus black type, are the owners, jockey trainer and others close to the horse. The result of the inquiry would be palpably felt by other insiders too, because the supply side is their business. This Gulfstream inquiry was not about that - it was about a customer with close to $1.8 million on the line. The major racing media seemed to treat it as just another inquiry, whereas on social media, where bettors reside, it was a big deal.

Andy Beyer touched on this today:

•  Horseplayers are sensitive about disqualifications because all of us have been the victims of bad ones and costly ones. Stewards are maddeningly inconsistent. 

The firestorm was not only about this DQ, it was about everything a horseplayer goes through, being a customer. It's about the years and years of not having their voices heard.

The business learned yesterday that customers need to be listened to and their money respected better than it has been. I hope racetracks heard the message sent.

2. In the social media world, a response from a racetrack in a situation like this, should be swift. As Beyer wrote "The Gulfstream stewards would not answer questions about the Collinito DQ and issued only a two-sentence statement that left various questions unanswered"

In this day and age, this is unacceptable.

3. Conspiracy theories arose during the proceedings, as probably expected. Rumors like: "Tim Ritvo was on the phone", "Gulfstream wanted a carryover", "the fix was in" etc. 

What we as horseplayers must also realize, is that those in charge of the business are generally good people. Although we feel (and are in many cases) underappreciated, Tim Ritvo and others are not bogeymen and women.

John Pricci interviewed Tim Ritvo today about these issues. It's a great read.

Of special note, several HANA members have spoken to Mr. Ritvo in the past about issues regarding the turf scratch rules, timing of the Gulfstream races and other horseplayer-centric questions. Mr. Ritvo was straight up, detailed, and was accommodating to us, as customers. The thought he would do something blatantly untoward in this situation was a non-starter.

4. We learned racing needs a new system. There has to be a better way. At industry meetings we see panel and panel about insider problems and issues, but rarely one about customer service.

Does racing need cameras in the stewards room live? Does racing need a clock set up for DQ's whereby if 120 seconds passes and they cant make a decision, there is no change (they can work it out for the owners later). Does racing need four judges, like Nick Kling said on twitter, one representing horseplayers, and only a 3-1 vote changes the outcome? Do we need "stewards school" where national standards on inquiries are set, and to get the job you have to pass a test with these industry set best practices?

Let's hope the industry learns something about this episode, because the way things are working, are not working much at all.

DQ - Gulfstream Rainbow Six

Twitter is blowing up. So is Facebook. Everybody is talking about the bettor who singled the #12 horse in the final leg of the Rainbow 6 at Gulfstream this afternoon, only to be disqualified out of a payoff of nearly two million dollars.

The following thread at Paceadvantege says it all:
http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111201&page=1&pp=15

Worst beat of ALL TIME (Rainbow 6 at Gulfstream) 12 wins the finale at GP, one winning ticket, gets DQed on a VERY shaky call at best. I'm sorry, but that is just wrong and screams of conflict of interest.

Then, later this afternoon, a player I know sent me the following email:

"I logged into Twinspires and tried to watch the head on replay. Guess what? The race with the DQ is the only one on the day at Gulfstream without a head on replay. Somehow, the head on replay for that race is magically blacked out!"

Here are my thoughts on this:

I may not agree with the call itself. And whether or not you agree with the call you have to feel truly awful for the bettor whose horse was DQ'd.

Good call... bad call... a call where the majority of the bettors want the stewards tarred and feathered... a call where the majority agree with the call, etc....

All of that pales by comparison to what's being done here.

This game is sorely lacking in transparency.

You see, lack of transparency is seen by many as a lack of integrity.

If you want to bring some integrity to decisions handed down by the stewards:

THE ONE THING YOU HAVE TO DO EVERY SINGLE TIME (AT THE VERY LEAST) IS MAKE THE VIDEO THE STEWARDS USED TO MAKE THEIR CALL PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.

Don't hide the video and hope the controversy fades away. In my opinion that's FAR WORSE than the call itself.

Jeff Platt
President, HANA

Dinkin's Tourney Tips

This article by Jerod Dinkin originally appeared in February's Horseplayer Monthly magazine.  To read that issue, or any of the previous issues, chalk filled with handicapping articles and stats, please click here. It is 100% free.  

Over the years, with the popularity of handicapping tournaments increasing, there have been a number of “how-to” type articles dealing with proper strategy. Even with the best strategic guidance, there is no magic bullet to guarantee success, and akin to the regular day-to-day pari-mutuel endeavor, no easy solution to the puzzle.  Besting a field of relatively equally matched, veteran contest players requires a lot of skill, luck, and preparation. However, there are simple steps you can take to put yourself in a better position to succeed by “controlling what you can control.”

I played basketball under a legendary coach that preached that the difference between winning and losing often came down to three points, all of which are in your control: (1) Conditioning (2) Preparation (3) Effort. Our team succeeded largely by being in better shape than our opponents, preparing to take away what they do best, and putting forth maximum effort. Sometimes, you can do all of the above and still lose, but you only want that to occur when the other team is simply superior despite execution of those core principles.  While contest play is vastly different than athletic competition, certain tenets hold true. In general, you can “control what you can control” in the contest world by sticking to the following: 

1.  Completely understand and master the rules of each contest you enter prior to plunking down your hard earned cash for the entry fee 

This seems like advice akin to telling the new owner of a computer that the first step is to plug it in, but you would be shocked at the number of contest entrants that make inexplicable decisions where the only logical conclusion is that the player didn’t grasp the rules (or was drunk or perhaps a combination of the two). The modern day tournament scene has a variety of formats with differing rules. Whether online or in person, read through the Official Rules from start to finish. Contact tournament officials with any questions to assure your assumption of the rules is in fact correct. Often times, the Official Rules contain vague language that requires clarification. 

2.       Keep your emotions under wraps 

Again, seemingly straight forward advice, but how many times have you gone on emotional tilt? How many times have you missed that 15-1 horse that wins the first contest race and gone straight in the tank? Each time you fly off the handle or get down on yourself, it’s an advantage to the other contestants. Every single person out there has had a tough photo go the other way, been between two potential plays and selected the “other” horse, and had one or more other players pass them in the final contest race with a complete stab they only selected due to their place far back in the standings. The more time you stew in your own pool of self-pity the worse off you’ll be. Additionally, no one wants to hear your bad beat story. We’ve all been there, done that (it’s also the single worst part about sitting at a poker table; the under/over on how quickly you hear a bad beat story is three and a half minutes). Don’t be that guy/gal. Be a man/woman, take accountability, and recognize that no one put a gun to your head and made you select that horse (well, it might happen at Thistledown). 

Make your selection, let the cards fall where they may, and turn the page, win or lose. The next race is coming up and those with a clear head have an advantage.  

3.       Don’t forgo any potential advantages to the field 

Tournaments are hard enough to win without spotting the field certain advantages. For instance, if you partake in an online contest where you have the ability to make picks one minute prior to post for each contest race, be present to do so. If you don’t have the time to participate and be there for each and every race, don’t enter the contest. If time constrained, either find a format that requires all plays to be made prior to the first contest race or pass altogether.

4.       Value / Fixed Loss 

This doesn’t pertain to contest advice per se, rather the concept of a fixed loss is included as an item under your control because handicapping contests provide a unique cost structure that is good for those that often struggle with sticking to their bankroll in ordinary pari-mutuel wagering situations. You know going into each contest the exact amount you will spend for the day and often contests will run from the start of east coast tracks until the end of the west coast races. Even the most disciplined long-term profit seeking handicapper struggles with playing too many races in their typical pari-mutuel day at the races / day in front of the computer. Contest play helps those that struggle with “over betting” enjoy a day of entertainment at a known cost.

Another point on the subject is that value, when taken in context of the tournament world, is less black and white versus that of the typical pari-mutuel endeavor. Each individual will assess the experience at the NHC, HPWS, BCBC, and other live contests in a different way that is beyond pure dollars and cents and therefore have a different tolerance for the fees and potential takeout concerns involved with qualifying for them. The camaraderie, experience, and challenge of the NHC, for instance, will equate to differing levels of comfort on how much to spend qualifying, depending on the player. Quantifying personal satisfaction is uniquely individual and completely subjective. Luckily, in this age of high takeout on much of the pari-mutuel front, there are contest opportunities out there with zero takeout. Yes, you read that correctly – no takeout (this article will include a warning for lawmakers and horsemen from the state of Pennsylvania in order to avoid heart attacks. Ideal takeout for that group of usury experts is 30%).

With that said, please keep the following in mind:  When taking part in a live contest with no takeout, do not use your online ADW to make non-contest wagers while at the venue. Not only is it bad form, but the host venue relies on your handle to make sense of putting on the event in the first place. In an era where the horseplayer is rarely treated like a human being, these are select contests where we are actually catered to quite nicely. In addition to zero takeout, these rare events also tend to provide a free lunch and past performance materials.

In order to ensure these contests continue, please show your support by putting your non-contest dollars through their windows.

Final Thought 

In summation, while much of the above advice seems simplistic and obvious, sometimes the key to success is getting back to basics and not beating yourself. Come prepared, organized, well versed in the rules, and keep a clear head. You’d be amazed how those simple points can put you over the top in the contest world where infinitesimal margins determine the difference between success and failure.

Good Luck and Good Racing

An Interesting Breakdown of NHC Payouts

Handicapper and tournament player Lenny Moon broke down the prize structure for the NHC today in an article. 

•  The total money available was $3,039,710 and $1,862,000 was paid out, which means $1,177,710 was taken out for an effective takeout rate of 38.74%.

Horseplayers have been mentioning this on social media and chat boards for some time.

Please visit Lenny's site if you'd like to comment, and we will keep you updated on any developments with this through our various social media and email outlets.

Good For Them, Bad For the Bet?

The DRF has a story out today that trainer Todd Pletcher has 41 Triple Crown nominations. This is obviously an astounding number.

Reading social media the other day someone said what keeps Hong Kong horse racing competitive, fresh and a top gambling product, is that the top stables are only allowed thirty horses. That's it. Scanning the internet I do not see a reference to 30, but to 60.

If social media correct, Mr. Pletcher has more horses eligible of primarily one sex and only one age than anyone is allowed in Hong Kong, of all sexes and ages.

That's capitalism and that's that. However, if one person has so many horses, doesn't it make the gambling less bettable and interesting? Every MSW race at a half dozen racetrack's with a 3-5 TAP expensive steed is not very palatable.

In similar fashion I read this blog piece about harness racing.The post relates to the fact that the best drivers who are well-bet - some who are named on three or four horses a race - get to choose who they want to drive after the post draw.

• The successful driver loves the current system as it no doubt leads to a thick bottom line come the end of the year and the trainers of said horses like having any advantage over other trainers.

• But do gamblers like it?  The casual gambler who plays drivers may like it but is it really to the advantage of the gambler for drivers to be able to choose their mounts after post positions are drawn?  What would happen if drivers had to choose their drives before post positions were selected?

On a half mile track this would make the odds board much more attractive for customers.

Trainers having their barn capped at 30 horses, or drivers having to choose their mount before a post draw will never happen. But I don't think there is one horseplayer or casual fan alive who would not love to handicap those races, instead of the ones customers are currently given. 

"I'm a Bettor"

Hi, you know me. I’m a bettor.

I rush up to the windows with zero minutes to post to get my bet down, fumble with my selections, get sneered at for messing up by Mr. Teller, and learn that I still had another six minutes to get my bet in. “They do that at Tampa Bay” someone tells me. 

I’m a bettor.

I was at the track and noticed a trainer who was suspended in a state, but was racing in another state. “What should I do” I asked. One of my friends said I should not bet because he is not “using the juice” there. Another told me that they are watching him for milkshakes so I should not bet. I don’t even know what a milkshake is, so I bet. He ran up the track. Maybe they were right. 

I’m a bettor. 

I watch the races on a Saturday and get confused so easily. “Why do all the races that I want to bet go off at the same time” I ask. “That’s what they do here”, someone tells me. 

I’m a bettor. 

A while back I was at the track. My horse looked to be bumped by another horse and I came second. Everyone said they would take a look at it, so I waited. Someone said “it’s the last race of the day so the judges want to go home.” Someone else said that the judges were watching a football game like they were at the Breeders’ Cup a couple of years ago. Someone else said that one of the judges probably bet the winner. I don’t know. All I know is no one told us anything, they put up the prices and I lost.

I’m a bettor. 

I was reading a story on one of the industry websites a couple of years ago and they told me that I should sign up for an Internet betting account because it was pretty cool. I looked into it and found one. They were right! This account gave me great service, free video and they even gave me a nice break on my takeout. Instead of losing a lot of money, I was only losing a little bit of money now. I was having fun. 

Then one day I got a letter saying that because I lived in New York I could not be a customer anymore. “That happened to me in Texas” said a friend. “Me too in Pennsylvania,” said another. Ditto in Virginia someone told me. Why did they tell me to sign up when they were going to not allow me to be a customer of them? Someone told me it’s because tracks and horsemen all need more money so they raised some sort of fee. But I found that strange; I did not just fall off the turnip truck. Billions of dollars have come from slots in some of these states. They have money. Why do they have to hurt us? 

“Maybe I will just go to the track again” I said, but a friend told me they were raising the price of parking and admission too. I don’t know what to do.

I’m a bettor. 

I was playing the races one day and the field was scratched from five horses to four horses. A professional gambler said I was stupid to bet a five horse field with high takeout, but I didn’t know what he was talking about. Then he told me that in the four horse field the track was still offering trifecta wagering. He said that was “criminal”. I don’t know much about math, but it does sound a little silly to have a trifecta in a four horse field. I have to watch these guys at this track, I said to myself. 

I’m a bettor. 

I like to wake up Saturday and get my email from horse racing. Every Saturday someone is trying to get me to bet a pick 6. I try and try and try but I never hit them. I get mails for a “Rainbow Six” and people like Andy Beyer tell me that’s even worse. 

Why do they always want me to bet something that I will never win? It seems mean.

I’m a bettor.

In Illinois they need more money, so they added a “surcharge”. I don’t know what that is, but I figure it’s going to screw me somehow.  Why can’t horse racing pay for things themselves when they mess up? It’s complicated, someone tells me. 

I’m a bettor. 

I’ve lived through it my whole life. Others “put on the show” and I don’t mean much. I should bet, even when the price goes too high, or they close down my online account, or they don’t show how an inquiry is handled, or when a trainer who is suspended in one place is not suspended in another or when they raise my parking prices. I’ve been through pick 6 scandals, and frog juice and signal fee hikes. I’ve been through supertrainers, and takeout hikes. 

Through all that, I and people like me, have bet and paid for purses so everyone can earn a living. Those who breed and ride and train and groom and shoe horses, among others.  I have not complained.  I was doing my job.

I’m a bettor. 

Last week I walked through my local track. I had not been there in quite some time. A racing executive said “I have not seen you in awhile”.

"No, I haven't been betting much" I replied.

He asked, “Why, is it because our purses are too low, or is it alternative gaming taking you away? Is it because of the bad weather?”

“You probably wouldn’t understand”, I said. 

I have not supported the industry for awhile, but I’m still a bettor. However, for all of you reading who are ex-bettors - the silent thousands who have left the sport forever the past ten years - let me say that I understand why you left. I understand completely.

Zenyatta & Will Take Charge - Some Horses Just "Have It"

With the Olympics only a couple of weeks away, I can't wait to watch one of my favorite Olympic sports, the biathlon. That's the sport where guys and gals ski for like 10 miles, then shoot a gun at a target. Yes, I am serious. I love that sport.

Remember when our basketball coaches made us shoot free throws after a long, hard practice? It was done to practice game-like conditions when we were tired. When we're tired, we make mistakes. We "break" in our fundamentals because our bodies are telling us they're about done.

In the biathlon that's seen almost each race. Evgeny from Uzbekistan is getting tired. Mats from Sweden (those Swedish skiiers kick some major butt, although all are not named Mats) catches him on a hill and Evgeny breaks. He's done. He misses his next few shots at the target to boot. His Olympic gold medal dream is over.


Similarly, horses who get tired tend to break. They want to catch the horse in front of them, or hold off the one coming, but they can't, because their bodies are telling them the discomfort of competing any longer is greater than their will to win. Their opponent has the will to win that goes beyond the usual will to win. Ask any trainer, when your horse has that quality, they are a glorious animal.

Bruno De Julio has been clocking horses longer than Miley Cyrus has been alive and he's seen it all. This month, in the Horseplayer Monthly magazine he wrote, what in my opinion is a fantastic column about a few of them, including Zenyatta and Will Take Charge.

"Shirreffs would send two workmates to deal with Zenyatta, one would make her work early. She would go after that one into the turn, but if allowed to stay on course, she would put away that mate and idle and get nothing out of her work, so, Shirreffs, threw a second workmate to jump into the work at the quarter pole and make her focus again and work hard to the wire. Even that sometimes wasn't enough as she would get lead in deep stretch and then idle out."

She had to chase and she had that will to win to chase as long as that target was in front of her. Even if she was getting tired and sore, and wanted to throw in the towel and get a warm bath and a bucket full of food, she chased. 

I enjoy handicapping - that's a given since I am a member of HANA and writing this article - but I am also a fan of raw athleticism. I don't think we give some of our top horses their due at times for being great athletes. It's something that not all of them have, and when they have it, I think it's completely magical.

To read Bruno's article, as well as many others from Barry Meadow, Melissa Nolan, Rich Nilsen and others, please click here. It's free and you can get back issues too.

To visit Bruno on the web and sign up for his newsletter and service, please click here. 

Horseplayers!

Reviews are positive for Horseplayers tonight on Esquire.

And another reminder.

Later this week our February issue of Horseplayer Monthly is to be released.

We've got articles on Tourney play from Jerod Dinkin, Mike Dorr and Lenny Moon. Articles from Bruno DeJulio and Barry Meadow, Melissa Nolan and much more.

To access the Horseplayer Monthly, you can get it all right here.

Doubling Handle in a Decade And a Reminder to Check Out "Horseplayers"

"It truly is amazing how growth can positively impact everyone while stagnation leads to tribalism and in-fighting and decision-making based on the fear of loss as opposed to the hope of gain. That’s unfortunately where horse racing is today."

- From "The Decade Double" right here.

Reminder, this Tuesday evening, Horseplayers debuts on Esquire. One of the horseplayers in the show helped out the Horseplayer Monthly magazine a time or two. The others are all favorites of many of us as well.

 

To read more about the show, click here.

Do You Want Rolling Doubles Back in California?

Some horseplayers on social media and via our email have said they dislike the double change in California. Although they are happy the payouts are increased (the takeout was reduced), they liked the convenience of betting doubles in more than select races.

A horseplayer has started a petition to bring back rolling doubles. If you are interested in signing it, you can here.

Note: At HANA, we have not surveyed our membership on this question, so we just link this with that caveat. Clearly, if rolling doubles are returned, we are for them with the higher payout rate to increase churn and make the game more enjoyable for all of us, the customers.

Fan or Handicapper? Find Out Now!

This article by Jerod Dinkin originally appeared in December's Horseplayer Monthly magazine.  To read that issue, or any of the previous issues, chalk filled with handicapping articles and stats, please click here. It is 100% free.  

In recent issues of Horseplayer Monthly, we’ve asked Q & A interviewees the following question: “What percentage are you a fan and what percentage are you a handicapper?” This is seemingly a straight forward enough question, but for those seeking a little guidance, here is a quiz to help you determine your ratio: 

1.    When planning a weekend trip to Lexington in April or October, which of the following best describes your dream itinerary/thought process about the trip?
A.    Two days straight without leaving the Bluegrass Room, except perhaps for an occasional restroom break, but only if there is more than 20 minutes left to the next post (10 pts)
B.    One day at Keeneland, one day visiting horse farms (5 pts)
C.    Feeding retired race horses carrots at The Kentucky Horse Park (1 pt)
D.    Putting on a set of goggles and doing the backstroke in a giant oak bourbon barrel at the Maker’s Mark production facility (No points, but sounds like fun)
E.    Both A and D, but not C (7.5 pts)
F.    What’s so special about Lexington? (Automatic disqualification from bettor or fan status)
G.    The Drive-Thru betting windows are the greatest invention since the gift of flight (20 pts)

2.    You overhear a discussion about the “Horse of the Year” and your first instinct is to think to yourself which of the following?
A.    Who cares? (10 pts)
B.    I will defend Zenyatta to the death (1 pt)

 Zenyatta - Breeders' Cup Photo

C.    I will defend Zenyatta to the death and then haunt you after my passing with impunity (0.5 pts)
D.    Yeah, yeah, yeah….Anyway, who won the fourth at Portland Meadows? (15 pts)
E.    Seems like a popularity contest for really wealthy grown-ups (no pts up for grabs, just an observation)

3.    The term “Dime Supe” refers to what?
A.    A four horse vertical wager made in 1/10 fractional increments (10 pts)
B.    An option that comes with the lunch special at Wong Foo’s (0 pts)

4.    While attending a Breeders’ Cup or Triple Crown race card, you must see and/or do the following:
A.    Visit the horses in the paddock before every race (2.5 pts)
B.    Concern yourself with sartorial choices (0 pts)
C.    Drink beer (5 pts)
D.    Have a mixed drink with any form of fruit or mint (1.5 pts)
E.    Only drink water since you, “can’t focus properly on your handicapping while buzzed” (10 pts)
F.    Remember to print out Track Bias and Trip Notes prior to leaving the hotel (15.5 pts)
G.    Check the website of the hotel you plan to stay in for the event ahead of time to confirm proper Business Center accommodations to make sure you can print out Track Bias and Trip Notes (16.5 pts)

5.    Let’s say “hypothetically” you went to France to visit your then girlfriend who would eventually become your wife as she finished her last week of a semester abroad at a large university. Let’s also “hypothetically” say that while she was in class, despite the French language proficiency of a preschooler, you purchased the French version of the Form, visited Vincennes Harness track, spoke broken French lacking any form of lucidity to a mortified teller who couldn’t stop laughing at a silly American, won four of six races with enough ROI to upsize from a croissant to a chocolate croissant (oui, oui) and was back in time for dinner. (100,000pts - especially if you passed on visiting the Louvre or Musee d’ Orsay)

6.    William Hill and Ladbrokes are:
A.    Characters on Downton Abbey (0 pts)
B.    British based wagering services (7.5 pts)

7.    My favorite horse of all-time is:
A.    The one in which I cashed the biggest ticket (10 pts)
B.    Silver Charm, because he always gave his best (2.5 pts)
C.    The one with the same name as my pet turtle when I was a kid (0 pts)

8.    Aside from horse racing, my other hobbies and interests include:
A.    Watching and/or wagering on football, basketball, and hockey (7.5 pts)
B.    Luge (0 pts)
C.    Challenging my friends to various bets such as which raindrop will get to the bottom of the windowsill first (100 pts)
D.    Watching the Oscars (0.5 pts)
E.    Watching the VMAs (-500 pts)

9.    You are most likely to be able to name:
A.    All of the winners of the NHC (25 pts)
B.    The Kentucky Derby winners of the past 20 years (5 pts)
C.    The Louisiana Derby winners of the past 20 years (500 pts)

10.    A Triactor is:
A.    The Canadian term for Trifecta (10 pts)
B.    A triple threat that can sing, dance, and act (0.5 pts)
C.    Unplayable in the state of Pennsylvania with a 30% takeout (25 pts)
 
If you scored less than 50 points, you are more of a fan than a bettor.  50 or more points and you are more of a bettor than fan. If you scored 500 or more points, e-mail me your contact information and you can join my support group.

In all seriousness, this is a great game no matter your specific fan to bettor ratio. All of us are passionate about the game regardless of our specific lens, slant, or specific involvement in it. Breeders’ Cup weekend was a nice reminder of what many of us love about the sport without care if your handle is five figures or two figures, you own a Classic starter or just a can of Classic Coke, or if you just love to be with friends and family watching thoroughbreds do what they do best.
 
For just a few days, hopefully we forgot about realities such as signal fees, ADW fights, medication issues, takeout concerns, and wagering integrity, and could take pride in all that is good about the game.

Good luck and good racing.