Disgruntled beyond repair

[Split Rock]

Hello fellow posters. I've decided to write this here because I really respect the opinions and ideas of the regulars that post out here. I visit three forums and am always amazed at what savvy, intelligent, well informed people that post here. Honestly, I never knew there were so many sharp people following this game.

I've been tracking horse racing relentlessly since 1986. I've 'capped so many races that if I was able to get an exact count, I would probably be embarrassed by the total. That being said, today is my last day as a horse bettor.

As some of you know, I grew up in Minnesota and have followed Canterbury racing since its inception. What has been going on at that track this year is public larceny. It appears to be one of, if not THE, most crooked tracks in the country. I won't bore people with the details but all I can say is if you visit my forum http://valentoraces.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=1 and read about what people are saying and doing, it will blow you away.

The same couple of trainers are winning every race regardless of the horse they send out. They are claiming off of people and moving the horse up 20 to 30 points. Just today, of the 7 races where the 3 leading trainers had a horse entered, they won 6 of them.

I am not trying to point any fingers at anyone but as a person who has invested hard earned money in the game, I feel I am entitled to state my observations of what appears to be illegitimate.

I would love to hear from others on this. I notice there are trainers winning 50% at tracks like Arlington Park, Mountaineer and Monmouth just to name a few. Is the game changing? Are these trainers winning at this high percentage because they are just that much better?

In any event, this industry mess has finally driven me from the game. Really never thought it would be possible as my love for the game has endured for a long time.

[DanG]

Couple thought Split rock;

1st; I’m sorry to hear it’s gotten to the point that the situation is beyond repair. Assuming Minnesota has simulcasting options I hope you can pick up your chips and go to the next table. I made a serious effort to play CD / KEE about 7 years ago and walked away feeling like I drove into the Blue Grass with a turnip truck. :confused: Fortunately; there are many jurisdictions available, even though I’m sure this is where you have your greatest local knowledge…i.e. edge.

There are move up barns that go well beyond the leading trainer list on a track web site. When you follow the races as closely as you do its no illusion who can turn Arnold Ziffel into Grace Kelly. The Delaware / Mid-Atlantic circuit naturally comes to mind with their high octane “oats” :rolleyes: program.

Speaking of raw stats; here are the CBY trainers with over 30 starts at the meet so far. (Not including the last two days)
Trainer Plays Wins Win% W+P ITM WROI
Evans Justin 89 31 35% 63% 75% $0.96
Ness Jamie 78 27 35% 56% 74% $1.05
Robertson McLean 101 34 34% 56% 70% $1.13
Bennett Keith 52 11 21% 44% 52% $0.71
Rarick Randy 35 7 20% 37% 51% $0.87
Oliver Doug 35 6 17% 29% 46% $0.81
Biehler Michael E. 66 11 17% 36% 42% $0.92
Domenosky Tammy 57 9 16% 25% 42% $0.44
Padilla Tim P. 47 7 15% 26% 47% $0.40
Rhone Bernell B. 92 13 14% 22% 38% $0.53
Van Winkle David 65 9 14% 37% 52% $0.61
Scherer Gary 30 4 13% 27% 43% $0.35
Hanson Victor 56 6 11% 21% 34% $0.55
Hoffrogge Todd M. 57 6 11% 26% 44% $0.58
Bethke Troy A. 104 10 10% 23% 37% $0.63
Bravo Francisco 39 3 8% 28% 44% $0.32
Donlin Larry D. 57 4 7% 14% 32% $0.47
Bernhardt Dave 58 4 7% 10% 14% $0.93
Riecken Bruce L. 46 3 7% 9% 30% $0.35
Bolinger Michael R. 32 2 6% 19% 25% $0.54
Olesiak Jordan 122 7 6% 16% 29% $0.40
Danger Kevin 30 1 3% 7% 23% $0.22
Applebee David W. 36 0 0% 11% 22% $0.00
Cook James H. 37 0 0% 8% 24% $0.00

Here are the trainer changes: (minimum count 5 and both private and claims included)
Trainer Plays Wins Win% W+P ITM WROI
Witt, II Ernie 14 5 36% 50% 71% $3.28
Evans Justin 23 8 35% 70% 74% $0.93
Hanson Victor 6 2 33% 33% 33% $2.13
Ness Jamie 18 6 33% 61% 67% $0.84
Robertson McLean 9 3 33% 67% 78% $1.80
Biehler Michael E. 7 2 29% 29% 29% $2.34
Van Winkle David 8 2 25% 50% 50% $0.83
Bennett Keith 5 1 20% 60% 60% $0.54
Bernhardt Dave 5 1 20% 20% 20% $4.20
Rhone Bernell B. 11 2 18% 18% 55% $0.55
Hoffrogge Todd M. 6 1 17% 33% 50% $0.82
Bolinger Michael R. 13 1 8% 23% 31% $0.58
Applebee David W. 5 0 0% 0% 0% $0.00
Bethke Troy A. 10 0 0% 30% 50% $0.00
Cook James H. 8 0 0% 13% 38% $0.00
Danger Kevin 5 0 0% 20% 40% $0.00
Domenosky Tammy 7 0 0% 0% 14% $0.00
Johnson Jeremiyah 6 0 0% 0% 17% $0.00
Olesiak Jordan 13 0 0% 8% 23% $0.00
Troche Manuel 10 0 0% 10% 30% $0.00

On the surface these raw #’s don’t seem that out of line with modern racing. True; three barns are 43% of the list but I don’t have your local knowledge of drop-downs / other barn incompetence to comment further.

BTW: Speaking of move up barns; we all remember the Oscar Barrera run in NY and now we have various examples, but the best I ever saw horses run after a claim...bar none was Jeff Mullins in Arizona. Anyone who saw him explode on the scene can attest to that; have we EVER seen more 10+ length winners in our lives? :eek:

Hang in there Split Rock; your love & talent for the game is obvious and we can’t lose any more people who really care about our sport. I’m an unabashed advocate of HTR, but if you’re not already a subscriber it goes well beyond the software joining this group of people. In good times and bad the membership has the experience to steer clear of the rocks and is more then happy to pass it along. It’s the finest information / therapy a player can get for less then the price of one gallon of gas per day! :)

[njcurveball]

That being said, today is my last day as a horse bettor.

.

OH how many times have horseplayers uttered these same words! My good friend and father figure Al Ouellette taught me a lot about life and he will probably reach down from heaven and smack me, but not much good about horse racing.

One winter about 25 years ago I told a supervisor what his "preferred destination" should be and got a nice extended vacation. Al liked Keystone (Philly Park) and was retired. I would hear about the "fixed" races, no chance to win, "You can beat a race, but not the races". All the hossy sayings.

Al could say anything because my time with him was precious. But before this gets too long, let me just say Al like to box exacta and trifectas (on races that had trifectas back then). He didn't have very many good days unless the favorites did well. HUGE days were never a chance.

OK, I have to get to the point. Every day Al would complain on the way up and usually on the way back, he would NEVER go back, DONT even come over my house and pick me up. I AM NOT GOING! 60 miles of the fixed races, hossy sayings and retirement.

When I dropped him off, he would turn around and say, "what time are you picking me up tomorrow?" :eek:

We love the game, we hate the game, we endure. Sounds like you need a mental break and perhaps a change of venue!

I wish you luck when you return!

Jim

p.s. Looks like a nice forum, shame you are shutting it down!

[OPM]

Split, I hear you. My betting has decreased by 90% over the last year. while I'm not saying I am going to quit, I don't look forward to any weekends anymore. Have not played in any contest at all this year except 1 early round of the NHC online. I've look at CBY because it used to be that you can get some prices but nothing doing this yr. The same went for Tup. Mike Chambers is not up at EMD and there goes the prices.
I really believe there are no one out there that really wants to catch anyone.
Remember Jeff Mullins said he like Arizona better because they don't check for that many drugs there!!!

[DanG]

My betting has decreased by 90% over the last year.
I thought the @ routes in So Cal were paying more then last year. ;) :D
http://swingtrade.net/images/day_trading/day_trading_250x251.jpg

[OPM]

Very nice, must be a Monday!!!
I actually found someone to put up money for me to trade with and all it takes it an initial investment of $9k(vcmtrading.com). Shameless promotion.
However, the key to success in trading and horses is discipline, something that is very hard to master.
I can tell you exactly how to make money and most people will just lose(including yours truly).