Met Steve Crist yesterday

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by Scav

at Arlington. Dude is so comedy looking, he was signing his exoctic book or whatever, talked to him about Arlington (he doesn't follow them one bit)....

it is ridiculous what some people are paid to do in this world, it really is

I find Crist interesting and a good read. I can't say the same for any of the other DRF writers (guess that's why he's editor). What do you think the "Average" DRF guy makes? Say, the guy who covers Arlington and Hawthorne? If you told me any of these guys make over $50-60k, I'd say no way.

How can a big name like this not know anything about Arlington. It might not be one of your Tier 1 courses, but it is a close second. If those guys get paid anything let me know, I am ready to bring you all insight and tidbits from Great Lakes Downs. I feel I am qualified, I spend alot of nights drinking with the top trainer!!!! LOL

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by SentToStud

I find Crist interesting and a good read. I can't say the same for any of the other DRF writers (guess that's why he's editor). What do you think the "Average" DRF guy makes? Say, the guy who covers Arlington and Hawthorne? If you told me any of these guys make over $50-60k, I'd say no way.

The handicapping circuit guys make between $40-50k.. The staff writers might make a bit more..

[Scav]

I didn't mean it in a negative way, to get into this industry it takes some stones, aggressiveness, a couple risks and some luck.....he was a nice guy and he obviously has a clue. Hersh is another guy that is a good guy, I was talking with him in the press box yesterday, his handicapping is suspect but his writing is really good

[Scav]

I think I put the statement in the wrong context....It was said with a jealous tone as in "Why can't I get a job like this" type format, it wasn't meant to demean(?)

[Pointg5]

I think his new book is really good, I am a little more than half way through it, but it's helpful. He states the obvious, but it's stuff I have missed. Like when spreading of p3's or p4's, we were giving equal weight to all of the winners, when that might not be the case, we think a longshot could win, but for the most part we thought the others had a better chance to win, so you press those.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

These guys are all parasites.Make money off of horseplayers(not for them.)

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

These guys are all parasites.Make money off of horseplayers(not for them.)

Steve..

Crist has fought harder for the horseplayer than probably anyone in the past 30 years. He stepped up to save the DRF when it was in trouble as well. The above is a horribly negative, unfair statement and totally baseless...

[Gander]

Crist is a nice guy who is sharp as a tack. Every time I see him he goes out of his way to answer my stupid questions and he is very genuine, not a thing phony about him. Doesnt care what he looks like or what people think of him.
If you are to be harsh on anybody, please let it be Andy Beyer or Hank Goldberg.

[ArlJim78]

Scav's I caught the show that they did in the teletheatre before the races with Marcus and Crist. I had a different opinion on Crist's take on the Arlington card. He probably doesn't follow it on a daily basis but he obviously came prepared for the Sunday card. They sat and analyzed every stinking race in detail and a few times Marcus gave his own kudos to Steve for how spot on he was. We are fortunate to have Marcus Hersch for the daily DRF coverage in Illinois. He really is astute.

Steve Crist the same, lots of respect for the guy. He fights the battles for us and uses his position as a platform for bettering the sport. Whatever he writes I'm reading.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Steve..

Crist has fought harder for the horseplayer than probably anyone in the past 30 years. He stepped up to save the DRF when it was in trouble as well. The above is a horribly negative, unfair statement and totally baseless...

Looks like a duck,walks like a duck,and probably is a duck.Hey ,if horseplayers are dumb enough to pay these parasites,then they deserve what they get. We got a huge difference of agreement on these guys. I consider them PRO PARASITES(one and all.)Obviously, many others don't mind blowing money each day on product to pay these guys. These guys are not new.There will always be guys trying to make money off of cappers.They are the Carlton Sheets of the horseracing world.Like him,they claim to make $$ from doing something,but in actuality they make money by selling books,tapes,and articles on "how to" do something.If they were so great at doing this "something,"then they would just get paid from doing that.They make money off of other handicappers.Do you dispute this?

Scav you are way off on this one, way off.
Crist knows this game, and served in NYRA managemnet for a while.
But his immediate contributions to guys like you who love to cap are the innovations in the DRF that wouldn't be there without him. He started a rival to the DRF, the Racing Times, that eventually was bought out by DRF. From this paper came the idea to put Beyers in the Drf, and under Crist's guidance came things now taken for granted in there like mud and turf ratings, lifetime stats for horses on all surfaces, at specific tracks, and at specific distances. Also purchase prices of horses at auction, trainer and jockey stats, trainer switches noted, workouts given in a ranking order as to how many horses worked at that distance and how fast they were compared to others, and many more.
Without Crist you would be reading the DRf in its archaic form without all the stats that you know have and all that info. Hes a horseplayer first and foremost, and has given his share back to the players with all the work he has done making the DRF the info filled publication that it is.

I've read "betting on myself", gotta admit I like the guy. If you hadn't got a chance to read it, I reccomend it, puts the whole DRF world in a different light.

Originally Posted by seconditis

I've read "betting on myself", gotta admit I like the guy. If you hadn't got a chance to read it, I reccomend it, puts the whole DRF world in a different light.

Crist is a pioneer when it comes to publishing horse racing stats. He is one man fighting for the bettor who doesnt have inside information. I never read his book, but I hear it is good. I prob wont ever read it, but of well.

I can't read his article because I am not a paying member, but I think I have the DRF from the weekend in my car.

As for his salary, I bet he makes well over $100k a year when you count everything. His salary from the DRF, his book and public appearances etc etc etc.