This One's for Phil goes nuts...

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Accordingly, bettors disregard the normal logic of handicapping when they evaluate horses saddled by Rick Dutrow in New York, Bruce Levine or Jason Servis in New Jersey, Marty Wolfson in south Florida, Kirk Ziadie and Jamie Ness at Tampa Bay Downs, Jeff Mullins in California and countless other miracle workers.

There's not a problem then. If everyone knows/assumes these guys are cheating, and adjusts their game accordingly, I don't see why this seems to be at top of the list for handicappers to bitch about.

Why, I wonder, do we continually focus on this issue, rather than others that actual DO have an affect on one's ROI? Like:

1) after the bell betting
2) lack of accurate data (this is the 21st century, right?)
3) availability of free (live) video
4) INCOMPETENT stewards
5) ridiculous TAXATION

I can easily account for a juicer: I just use his horse to cover my ass when I have an opinion in the race. I can't really compensate for the others, however. The powers that be, who, most of us think are idiots or incompetent, must get a kick out of horseplayers' obsessive focus on this lesser issue at the expense of the more important ones.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

There's not a problem then. If everyone knows/assumes these guys are cheating, and adjusts their game accordingly, I don't see why this seems to be at top of the list for handicappers to bitch about.

Why, I wonder, do we continually focus on this issue, rather than others that actual DO have an affect on one's ROI? Like:

1) after the bell betting
2) lack of accurate data (this is the 21st century, right?)
3) availability of free (live) video
4) INCOMPETENT stewards
5) ridiculous TAXATION

I can easily account for a juicer: I just use his horse to cover my ass when I have an opinion in the race. I can't really compensate for the others, however. The powers that be, who, most of us think are idiots or incompetent, must get a kick out of horseplayers' obsessive focus on this lesser issue at the expense of the more important ones.

I agree to an extent, but how do you explain to a potential new bettor that some people cheat, but it is OK, just account for it when you handicap? Guys that have been around a while learn to adapt, but new people looking for a new hobby will probably find something else. It also makes for smaller fields which is not good for bettors either.

Further, we need owners and trainers to compete and make the game what it can be. Clowns like Dutrow drive potential owners/horsemen to other interests.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

It also makes for smaller fields which is not good for bettors either.

This is debatable. Small fields are not good for bettors looking to make big scores. You know, the once in a while hit; the pick 4 horses in a race and see what happens crowd.

IMO, they're just what the doctor ordered for someone who can consistently pick winners and has strong (and singular) opinions. I've recently discovered GG. Hard to find many races with more than 6 going to the post there. YET, the track is a ****in goldmine.