I Have a question (to the NYRA faithful)

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by CSC

Fman is misguided on one fact, Saratoga's opening 2 weeks has yielded some terrific racing filled with excellent prices, as for his point regarding Woodbine he is however correct.

The bottom line is the overall racing at Saratoga from Today-Saturday is really bad. Friday really ruins it. I agree with him on todays card. I wont comment on Woodbine. I think the problem is people dont like how he says it. The cards today, Friday and most of Saturday simply SUCK. He is right about that, now if he says "Sunday sucks", then he's 100% wrong.

Sunday is loaded.

[NTamm1215]

I guess to each their own but the steady stream of full fields work out fine for me. What is so bad about Friday's card? The John's Call is one of the most competitive races they've had all meet. The opener is going to be a barn burner through the opening six furlongs. So there are two maiden claimers, big deal, the MSW for 2YOs later on the card is strong.

Horseplayers will b.itch about anything, that's an ironclad fact but if you're someone who likes big, competitive fields then the quality at Saratoga has been there since Day 1 of this meet.

I can't believe we're making a real comparison to Woodbine, who cards multiple 5-6 horse races on a daily basis. Look at the opening six races on Saturday at Woodbine...wow.

By the way, those purses at Woodbine are huge, but that's Canadian dollars. The exchange rate right now is about $.93 to the dollar.

NT

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

I can't believe we're making a real comparison to Woodbine, who cards multiple 5-6 horse races on a daily basis. Look at the opening six races on Saturday at Woodbine...wow.

I don't get the fascination with large fields. Last thing I need is to handicap 12-14 horse races. Why would anyone want to spend so much time on a race? Give me smaller field races. It's typically immediately clear who the speed is, and who the contenders are. Handicapping a race should be a 5 minute thing. And playing the game should be about finding advantages. This typically means playing multiple tracks.
Either you have an opinion or you don't. When I play small field races, I can identify a standout and a 1 or 2 number exotic. I realize that playing multiple numbers is some kind of rite of passage here but for me, it's just a sign of not having an opinion.

I'm disappointed, however. There's a ton of money to be made at other tracks/surfaces and I just can't understand why there's such a resistance to playing them.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

I don't get the fascination with large fields. Last thing I need is to handicap 12-14 horse races. Why would anyone want to spend so much time on a race? Give me smaller field races. It's typically immediately clear who the speed is, and who the contenders are. Handicapping a race should be a 5 minute thing. And playing the game should be about finding advantages. This typically means playing multiple tracks.
Either you have an opinion or you don't. When I play small field races, I can identify a standout and a 1 or 2 number exotic. I realize that playing multiple numbers is some kind of rite of passage here but for me, it's just a sign of not having an opinion.

I'm disappointed, however. There's a ton of money to be made at other tracks/surfaces and I just can't understand why there's such a resistance to playing them.

Oh, I don't resist playing other tracks at all. In fact, I'll be at the local simulcast pitching away at Arlington this week and I think there's a mule I've been waiting for at Santa Rosa. What I don't get is the complaints about NYRA racing that are mostly flimsy.

NT

[stonegossard]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

I don't get the fascination with large fields. Last thing I need is to handicap 12-14 horse races. Why would anyone want to spend so much time on a race? Give me smaller field races. It's typically immediately clear who the speed is, and who the contenders are. Handicapping a race should be a 5 minute thing. And playing the game should be about finding advantages. This typically means playing multiple tracks.
Either you have an opinion or you don't. When I play small field races, I can identify a standout and a 1 or 2 number exotic. I realize that playing multiple numbers is some kind of rite of passage here but for me, it's just a sign of not having an opinion.

I'm disappointed, however. There's a ton of money to be made at other tracks/surfaces and I just can't understand why there's such a resistance to playing them.

Handicapping races should be a five minute thing? There's you're problem. You dont want to put the time into being a successful bettor.

What I dont seem to get is you blab about hitting 15-1 shots routinely....but then say you like to play 5-6 horse fields? Newsflash.....15-1 shots rarely win 6 horse fields.

[Bobby Fischer]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

I don't get the fascination with large fields. Last thing I need is to handicap 12-14 horse races. Why would anyone want to spend so much time on a race? Give me smaller field races. It's typically immediately clear who the speed is, and who the contenders are. Handicapping a race should be a 5 minute thing. And playing the game should be about finding advantages. This typically means playing multiple tracks.
Either you have an opinion or you don't. When I play small field races, I can identify a standout and a 1 or 2 number exotic. I realize that playing multiple numbers is some kind of rite of passage here but for me, it's just a sign of not having an opinion.

another "copy/paste/print/holepunch/binder" post for TFM

[2MinsToPost]

All I know is I drove 11 hours one way to take in some Saratoga. This past Weds I decided at the spur of the moment to pack my bags and drive up. Thursday afternoon around 2pm I arrived and settled in for the rest of the day at the track. Tired and spent, I got a great meal and a good nights rest. Friday (yesterday) I was at the track all day and in Horse Players heaven. I was not the least bit concerned about the cards either day. Just got home about an hour ago after a stop at Presque Isle Downs on the way home.

Was I upset they had some Maiden Claiming races? I'll answer it this way.
I will be making another trip to Saratoga before this meet is up. Flying or driving.

[fpsoxfan]

Just the Fatman being a blowhard again.
I've seen better Whitney cards, but it was still
a fun and challenging one. My friends and I had
a great time and we all made $. Not to mention the
fact there was 39,500 people there.

[fpsoxfan]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

I don't get the fascination with large fields. Last thing I need is to handicap 12-14 horse races. Why would anyone want to spend so much time on a race? Give me smaller field races. It's typically immediately clear who the speed is, and who the contenders are. Handicapping a race should be a 5 minute thing. And playing the game should be about finding advantages. This typically means playing multiple tracks.
Either you have an opinion or you don't. When I play small field races, I can identify a standout and a 1 or 2 number exotic. I realize that playing multiple numbers is some kind of rite of passage here but for me, it's just a sign of not having an opinion.

I'm disappointed, however. There's a ton of money to be made at other tracks/surfaces and I just can't understand why there's such a resistance to playing them.

Oh my! This has to be considered for post of the year.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by fpsoxfan

Oh my! This has to be considered for post of the year.

Thank you very much.

[Travis Stone]

What you determine to be value in any given horse race is just that - value. It doesn't matter if it's a match race or a 20 horse Kentucky Derby. 5/1 pays the same in a four horse race as it does in the 20 horse Ky. Derby. Of course, exotics are where the larger fields are helpful, provided that's what you like to play.

[the_fat_man]

I played 4 races at SMALL FIELD WO, yesterday. These were all my plays for the day.

3 exactas, 2 of which were ONE numbers and 1 win bet

I hit a $13 exacta in a 4 horse field, a $16 exacta in a 5 horse field and a $28 exacta (2 horse box) in a 9 horse field. I also ran 3rd with a 29:1 shot that I'd bet to win.

Now, as my objective in this game is to win consistently and NOT go for the (forced) BIG SCORE, why am I worried about any of this ****? I have the skill set to be able to pick out advantageous plays at 6 or 7 tracks a day and I know that if I wait, rather than force the action, I'll hit some big numbers. But I can't be throwing money away while I wait for these scores. My ROI when I'm 'selective' is through the roof. And by 'selective', I mean up to 10 plays a day.

I realize the normal way to play is here EXOTICS. And, I also realize that there's some sort of MACHO thing about forcing one's way through difficult races. I choose not to play that way. I don't play 35 numbers to get back 5:1. I play single units each race and I split these for mostly 2 combination exotic plays (very rarely will I box 3 horses).

(Most of ) the races are SAR are VERY HARD. Why would someone playing limited combos feel the need to play these races? Moreover, the odds there are just not competitive with what I get at the other tracks I play. This can debated all we want but, as I play multiple tracks, it's been shown to be the case.

As for the SAR ambiance/experience: been there done that. Going to ANY track at this point in my life is like starting to frequent DISCOS again.


To each his own: I'm offer a contrarian view, as it certainly can't be the case that EVERYONE here is winning doing the same thing.