Gulfstream Screws the Bettors

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

Well spoken. Couldn't have said it better myself.

Congrats to you for not being a jaded horseplayer constantly looking to blame someone for a routine surface change to ensure the safety of the horses and the integrity of the racing surface for another day.

I have yet to see horseplayer who hits a PK3 after a late surface change give credit to the track for taking a race off the turf, but surely somebody hit the PK3 even with the surface change. Where is THAT thread?

I actually made a lot of money in the 9th race today but since it was completely irrelevant to the topic I felt no reason to bring it up.

I'm not sure what a " routine surface change " is but I don't think today's events were routine. But, I handicap grass and dirt racing differently, so I think this was an important distinction.

By they way, racing on turf with give is not unsafe. Did you know they heavily water the courses in Europe to make them soft?

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I actually made a lot of money in the 9th race today but since it was completely irrelevant to the topic I felt no reason to bring it up.

I'm not sure what a " routine surface change " is but I don't think today's events were routine. But, I handicap grass and dirt racing differently, so I think this was an important distinction.

By they way, racing on turf with give is not unsafe. Did you know they heavily water the courses in Europe to make them soft?

Maybe you haven't seen enough races, but when it rains at a racetrack, they 'routinely' take the races off the turf and run them on the dirt. This event at Gulfstream was not the first time it has ever happened. It happens quite often actually, and if you don't like the wagering rules regarding a surface change in a Pk3, then DON'T PLAY THE PK3.

Oh yeah, they also water the turf courses in America. That green stuff they call the 'turf' is actually grass and it requires water to grow.

[Ghostzapperfan]

At Churchill on July 4 of last year, this same thing happened, and they gave consolations to all Pick 3 tickets that had the first race winner.

This actually turned out good for me, since I had a somewhat longshot in the first race, the favorite in the second, and had 3 horses wheeled into the third race, which became an "ALL" winner.

Problem was, they had a tote problem, and couldn't cash the tickets that day. I lived in Ohio, and rarely went to Churchill, but wound up ahead on Breeder's Cup day when I cashed the tickets....

ALostTexan

[SCUDSBROTHER]

At some point,this becomes a situation of simple courtesy to your customer.Can you instantly change track surface (legally) from turf to dirt? Yes,but if you don't take that race out of previously bet multi-race wagers,then you'll upset a good portion of your customers.Now,right here is the point where (traditionally) track owners and management have often stated (amongst themselves) that it doesn't matter.It doesn't matter,because gamblers are addicted,and won't leave.I simply disagree.I haven't made more than 3 or 4 bets this whole Gulfstream meet.The reasons for that are varied,but the fact is that gamblers can(and do) bet elsewhere when they don't like the way a track does things.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

At some point,this becomes a situation of simple courtesy to your customer.Can you instantly change track surface (legally) from turf to dirt? Yes,but if you don't take that race out of previously bet multi-race wagers,then you'll upset a good portion of your customers.Now,right here is the point where (traditionally) track owners and management have often stated (amongst themselves) that it doesn't matter.It doesn't matter,because gamblers are addicted,and won't leave.I simply disagree.I haven't made more than 3 or 4 bets this whole Gulfstream meet.The reasons for that are varied,but the fact is that gamblers can(and do) bet elsewhere when they don't like the way a track does things.

I couldn't agree more.