[Dunbar]

I doubt that the Laurel takeout reduction will have much impact. The fact that the 4% takeout at Ellis has only generated pools in the $30-40K range is a downright embarrassment. It shows that most bettors don't give a damn about takeout. They find a reason to bet over $16,000,000 a day into 15-35% takeout pools around the country, but cannot be attracted to a 4% takeout.

I have single-handedly accounted for something like 0.5% of ALL the Ellis Pick-4 pools. That's not to toot my horn but to point out how ridiculously low the level of support around the country has been. I hate betting maidens and I'd never bet a Pick-4 in my life previously. But it was obvious to me that if this 4% bet was strongly supported, it could affect takeout for years to come. I was willing to toss some money at it as an investiment in the future. Apparently not many bettors felt the same way.

The difference between Laurel's 10-11% takeout and NY's 15% WPS takeout is important, but is small compared to the difference between Ellis' 4% Pick-4 and Saratoga's 25% Pick-4. Payoffs at Ellis are 28% higher than they would be with Saratoga's 25% takeout. That extra 28% return didn't seem to be of much interest to most bettors.

--Dunbar