Integrity in horse racing -- from a betting standpoint

[Calzone Lord]

I saw this article ...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/teresage...r-own-product/

In a game that relies on an integrity that is often doubted and that invites conspiracy theories, it wouldn’t take much for the betting public to suspect that an executive with a wagering interest might engage in some shenanigans to make sure that he got to cash a ticket. Whether that is likely to happen is of little import; removing even the possibility of it for the sake of appearances, some would argue, is a no-brainer.

Of all of the things to doubt in horse racing ... #1 is the idea that executives in this sport could ever possibly bet for profit.

We would all be MUCH better off if these people bet.

And the idea of them "engaging in some shenanigans" to gain a true edge at the betting windows ... is highly amusing.

From the betting end ... the integrity in the sport of thoroughbred racing is incredibly high.

I bet over a thousand races a year -- many of them at mid and lower profile tracks ... and not one time in years did I watch a race and wonder if maybe some kind of fix was in. On maybe five or ten occasions a year...I might wonder if a horse I bet on was stiffed... and more times than not, it ends up being a case of a rider "taking care" of a horse with an in issue. A long layoff following the possible stiff job proves that out.

Life At Ten in the BC Distaff, Questing in the BC Distaff, type situations...do on occasion pop up in cheap races.

The only integrity issues I see in horse racing (from the betting end) is in regard to the trainers and the tote. These are small and insignificant issues.

We all know there are a few trainers who seem to have a magic wand. They improve all the horses they get almost overnight. And all the horses they lose, often see their form deteriorate fast. However, some human athletes have shady trainers as well. It's not a big deal to bettors.

The biggest integrity issue is probably with the tote system. I've seen a lot of my horses get pounded suspiciously so late in the betting, that the odds change occurs during the race. It's annoying when your 5/1 shot suddenly is 3/1 with 3 furlongs to go. This happens more often at smaller tracks, and probably isn't even an integrity issue even though it feels like it after it keeps happening.

Basically ... in terms of horse racing everywhere, the integrity factor is probably the one and only thing the executives and powers that be in horse racing have done a great job with.

However, these same executives and same powers that be have shown such a tremendously poor understanding of their customer, that we should be BEGGING these people everywhere to bet on the races! We need all of the handle we can get from those type of people.