Tampa Downs lowering takeout, minimums on exotics

[SlewsMyHero]

Originally Posted by golfer

If the racing weren't so cheap (most of the time) and the jockey colony so horrifying (all the time), this might be one of the top tracks in the country.

Other than Saratog/Belmont, Keeneland/Churchill and So. California, what track doesn't run "cheap" races? Even So. Cal is running some pretty cheap races these days. I like the Tampa product. Aren't full, competitive fields what every horseplayer wants?

[golfer]

Originally Posted by SlewsMyHero

Other than Saratog/Belmont, Keeneland/Churchill and So. California, what track doesn't run "cheap" races? Even So. Cal is running some pretty cheap races these days. I like the Tampa product. Aren't full, competitive fields what every horseplayer wants?

Which is why I tend to focus my wagering on NY/KY/Gulfstream. I do plan on following the Tampa meet more closely this year than in previous years, but I have found these full, competitive fields of cheap horses to be very unpredictable. Which is certainly the nature of the cheaper claiming races everywhere.

There is no defending the quality of the jockey colony.

[GPK]

Great news all around, especially .50 cent pick 4.

Other than the turf races at Gulfstream, TBD is the only winter racing that really exists for me...unless you exclude Derby Hall

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by GPK

Great news all around, especially .50 cent pick 4.

Other than the turf races at Gulfstream, TBD is the only winter racing that really exists for me...unless you exclude Derby Hall

Derby Lane

[joeydb]

I'll be playing Tampa Bay for sure. I like the initiative they're taking with lower takeouts, and I want to reward them and inspire other tracks to follow suit.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

Derby Lane

We went there too?!? Wow, that was a long day

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by golfer

Which is why I tend to focus my wagering on NY/KY/Gulfstream. I do plan on following the Tampa meet more closely this year than in previous years, but I have found these full, competitive fields of cheap horses to be very unpredictable. Which is certainly the nature of the cheaper claiming races everywhere.

There is no defending the quality of the jockey colony.

The jockey colony is awful, but knowing their strengths and weeknesses can give you a huge edge.

There are very few jocks there that can time a two turn race properly. Unless they are on a loose frontrunner, they can't win.

As a horseplayer, you do have to live with some pretty horrible rides from time to time, but you take notes and hope that horse comes back with a better jock next time.

[golfer]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

The jockey colony is awful, but knowing their strengths and weeknesses can give you a huge edge.

There are very few jocks there that can time a two turn race properly. Unless they are on a loose frontrunner, they can't win.

As a horseplayer, you do have to live with some pretty horrible rides from time to time, but you take notes and hope that horse comes back with a better jock next time.

Great point, but that's a lot of work Seriously, that's why I will try to follow the meet more closely this year. And making a trip or 3 out there live won't hurt either.

[-BT-]

Originally Posted by GPK

Great news all around, especially .50 cent pick 4.

Other than the turf races at Gulfstream, TBD is the only winter racing that really exists for me...unless you exclude Derby Hall

aside from your little bundle of joy this year, this has gotta be in the top 5greatest things to happen to kev in 2009


as far as capping gulfstream turf last year, it was impossible for me. If you got to the front you were a winner, you had the lead at the top of the lane you had a good shot to win. Closers were a complete toss for me by years end

-bt-

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

The jockey colony is awful, but knowing their strengths and weeknesses can give you a huge edge.

There are very few jocks there that can time a two turn race properly. Unless they are on a loose frontrunner, they can't win.

As a horseplayer, you do have to live with some pretty horrible rides from time to time, but you take notes and hope that horse comes back with a better jock next time.

c faine...

[Duvalier]

Any new trainers planning on wintering at Tampa this year or is it going to be the usual suspects?

[pba1817]

As long as they continue to get larger fields, that is all I am concerned with. I would much rather bet a 12 horse field of $10k claimers, than the 6 horse ALWN1X I see at GP and AQU all winter.

The Florida % take-outs are pretty much the highest in the country.

[GPK]

How many stalls did Kirk Zaide get this meet?

[Scav]

Originally Posted by GPK

How many stalls did Kirk Zaide get this meet?

Zero

[GPK]

Originally Posted by Scav

Zero

Im shocked

Next thing you know, you will tell me Charles Fantana was denied stalls too

[Bigsmc]

Charles Fontana

[GPK]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

Charles Fontana

kinda fitting with the o, considering he is usually o for 73 before he gets his first winner at the meet

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by GPK

kinda fitting with the o, considering he is usually o for 73 before he gets his first winner at the meet

which is invariably smack in the middle of the Pick 4 sequence, thus driving me insane....

[GPK]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

which is invariably smack in the middle of the Pick 4 sequence, thus driving me insane....

Better him than Wasiluk

[favoritetrick]

Sam Houston and Retama Park still have a 12% takeout in effect on their Pick 3's (I believe), Kentucky is at 19% and then it's Tampa and Gulfstream at 20%. The rest are all higher.

Monmouth and the Meadowlands have the lowest Pick 4 takeout at 15%, then Kentucky at 19% and Tampa and Gulfstream at 20%.

Calder, surprisingly enough, has an eye-popping 27% takeout on their multi-race wagers.