Online Horse Betting - Favorites Do Well in the Ha
Online wagering favorites have performed splendidly in the Haskell Invitational, winning 10 of the past 14 years in Monmouth Park's premier stakes. Six consecutive off track betting favorites scored starting in 1994 when Holy Bull returned the lowest win payoff -- $2.40.
In all 18 post time choices haven't disappointed in the 40 races. Big Brown likely will be the odds-on choice in the $1 million event on Aug. 3 at 1 1/8 miles.
"The Haskell is a race (at) a racetrack that I think is more suitable to him, a distance that I now feel comfortable with and it allows us, more importantly, to get another race in between the Breeders' Cup," co-owner Michael Iavarone told Associated Press Saturday.
"The race fits his style," co-owner Paul Pompa Jr. had said earlier. "Monmouth is a speed-favoring track and it's comparable to Gulfstream Park, which Big Brown is fond of," referring to his two overpowering wins at the South Florida track, including the Florida Derby.
"I think the spacing is ideal," Iavarone said. "If you go to the Travers, I think the spacing becomes a little tight."
So far, it appears the only committed challenger is Pyro, who finished eighth behind Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby. The son of Pulpit, who won the Northern Dancer on June 14, breezed five furlongs in 1:05 1/5 at Churchill Downs on June 30.
Truth Rules likely earned a berth in the Haskell with his last-to-first victory in Saturday's 74th Long Branch Stakes, which traditionally produces invitations to horses that run well.
Truth Rules nipped favored Atoned by a head in 1:45 1/5 for the 1 1/16 mile while Z Humor was 3 1/4 lengths back in third. The son of Vindication recorded his second straight after breaking his maiden in June.
Horses that hit the board in Monmouth's prep for the Haskell are 1-3-2 of 16 since '92.
Big Brown has been training at Aqueduct, breezing five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 on July 7. That was his second work since being eased in the Belmont Stakes following his victory in the Preakness Stakes.
There have been some whopping win payoffs in the Haskell since Balustrade surprised at $68.20 in the '68 inaugural when the race was for older horses.
The biggest payoff came in '85, four years after the Haskell was made an invitation-only $200,000 race for 3-year-olds at 1 1/18 miles. Skip Trial upset runner-up Kentucky Derby champ Spend a Buck and Belmont victor Creme Fraiche to return a record $73 on the front end.
Monmouth's track record for the distance was established that same year by Spend a Buck in the Philip H. Iselin Stakes - 1:46 4/5. Joloe's Halo equaled the mark a half-dozen years later in the same race, first run in 1884.
In '76, Majestic Light set the stakes record of 1:47 that was equaled by '87 Belmont winner Bet Twice who defeated Derby-Preakness winner Alysheba.
Majestic Light not only sired '82 Haskell champ Wavering Monarch, but another son, Simply Majestic, set the world record of 1:45 in '88 at Golden Gate Fields.
The Haskell is named for the first president and chairman of the Monmouth Park Jockey Club who served two decades until his death in 1966.
The track on the Jersey Shore has had more ups and downs than the stock market since opening on July 4, 1870. By 1890, it was completely rebuilt. The following year, Monmouth's meeting was moved to Jerome Park in New York because of repressive legislation against gambling. Then the track was shuttered for more than half a century.
Amory L. Haskell, a General Motors vice president after serving in the Navy during World War I, led a successful fight in 1939 to legalize pari-mutuel wagering in New Jersey. Although World War II delayed construction of a new facility, the track finally was opened in '46.
Serena's Song won the '95 race when the purse was hiked to $500,000. A year later, Skip Away banked most of the $750,000. In '97, Touch Gold triumphed when the purse was hiked to $1 million.
(c) 1994-2008 BetUS
Many to blame for sorry case of Ellis Park
The death of a racehorse can move millions to tears. The death of a race track, not so many. But if the death of the filly Eight Belles moments after the Kentucky Derby moved thoroughbred racing to action on a national scale, the closing -- or near-closing -- of Ellis Park ought to signal an even bigger warning to the sport's leaders in this state.
They were supposed to be racing in Henderson, Ky., today. They are not. In what some would tell you is the thoroughbred racing capital of the world, we may have a summer without horse racing. Between horsemen, tracks and politicians, we are witnessing a Triple Crown of dysfunction.
Memo to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals: You need not take any action to stamp out the sport in its heartland. Just buy a seat in the grandstand or clubhouse, sit back and watch. The folks running the sport in Kentucky are doing a fine job on their own.
I feel the way my parents must have felt when they sat all of us kids down and said, "We don't care whose fault it is. You're all in trouble, and it has to stop."
The blame for this sorry situation can be spread evenly.
No owner can be compelled to run a racetrack at a loss. But Ellis Park owner Ron Geary owed it to this state to let the possibility of the closing be known well before the week his track was to open.
Geary says he can't afford to keep the track open because the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association won't relent on demands for a larger share of online and phone wagering profits and is blocking the track's races from TV, phone and Internet betting until he gives in.
The horsemen, who are fighting the same fight against Churchill Downs -- and who have blocked online and phone wagering on Churchill races -- have received support from me in asking for more. But by not recognizing the difference between the world's most famous racetrack and a small track struggling for survival, they lost any goodwill they might have built in this struggle.
And that goodwill was dwindling anyway. It takes a pretty dense bunch not to recognize that it's a long way from the Twin Spires to the infield soybeans of Ellis.
But they're not the only losers in this. The failure to shore up racing in this state is first and foremost a political failure. The inability of Kentucky's governor and general assembly -- and their predecessors -- to advance the question of legalized gaming or some other measure to protect and promote the industry is incomprehensible given its importance to the state.
And then there's Churchill Downs, which instead of taking a leadership role on any of these issues has looked out solely for No. 1, slashing purses and sacrificing the product at the finish line for the ink on the bottom line.
No, Ellis Park is not a major player. And unless you are, it seems you're no longer welcome in the sport today. But Ellis is a major part of life in that area of the state and southwestern Indiana. When it closed, 500 people lost jobs and countless others lost a tradition they grew up with and loved.
And horse racing lost a lot of face. Whether racing resumes at Ellis or not, a fracture has occurred in Kentucky racing. And in this business, fractures can be lethal.
(c) Courier-Journal
Off Track Betting - Horse Racing Gets a Bad Rap Too Often
The Sport of Kings always gets a bad rap after a death on the racetrack. Criticism often comes from those that have no idea how the thoroughbred industry operates.
The latest chapter in the blame game involves the unfortunate demise of Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby after running a valiant second, then collapsing on the Churchill Downs main track and having to be euthanized.
The salvos fired soon after the tragedy were many: Fillies shouldn't race against males, Eight Belles must have been on steroids, it's a money hungry industry with no regard for the horses, etc.
Well, fillies and mares have raced against their male counterparts across the Atlantic for years and have done quite well. Tests proved Eight Belles wasn't racing with steroids when she broke down in the Kentucky Derby after finishing second to Big Brown. And most owners and trainers of thoroughbreds would never think of throwing them to the wolves.
Several of my readers commented on the Eight Belles tragedy and were quite compassionate.
"I wanted to see a filly win," wrote Marsha. "But the worst happened. It was not the owner's, trainer or jockey's fault. The old saying, 'S--- Happens.' It did. A racehorse, with a big heart, broke her legs. Yea, fillies may not be as strong as a stallion, but look at women - we aren't either, but we get the job done. RIP Eight Belles. You did a wonderful job!"
"There is no reason why fillies can't or shouldn't race in the Kentucky Derby," Connie observed. "However, fate has happened as it could have happened to any of the other horses, as we have seen in the past such as Barbaro. But everything happens for a reason. My heart goes out to her trainers, owners and everyone she has touched in her short life. God Bless!"
"She was a great athlete - she beat all but one of the boys," Warren remarked. "I wept when I heard of her demise. I agree with some of the others it was an unfortunate accident"
Now Congress has decided to poke its nose into horse racing, just like it recently did concerning steroids in pro baseball and team spying in the National Football League.
However, racing is attempting to correct such issues as drugged horses, catastrophic breakdowns and injured thoroughbreds with nowhere to go.
Alan Marzelli, president of The Jockey Club whose Thoroughbred Safety Committee recently issued recommendations to correct the problems, said he would like to see an industry-led central body for racing, not federal intervention.
On Monday, IEAH Stables, which owns Big Brown, told BloodHorse its horses would race without any medication except Lasix starting Oct. 1. Several horses are bleeders, trainer Rick Dutrow explained, and require Lasix to run.
"We're beginning Oct. 1," IEAH co-president Mike Iavarone said, "because the horses should be clear of all substances by that time. In addition, we are willing to allow racetracks to do pre- and post-race testing on all our horses, and we will pay all expenses.
Iavarone said he feels it's time for someone to step up and take drastic action - and he challenged all owners to follow suit.
Several of my readers recently suggested withholding steroids from Big Brown after he won the Preakness was one reason the 3-year-old performed badly in the Belmont Stakes.
"I think the poor horse was not used to running without steroids (Winstrol)," Paula Marie wrote. "It does not mean he's not a great racehorse. But since Winstrol is legal, he should've probably stayed on that until after this major race. It may have been too hard on him physically because he was used to running on the steroid. I'm definitely against the use of steroids without a medical cause, but the time may have been too soon to get off of Winstrol."
"People forget that horses aren't machine," Fred said. "They're animals - living, breathing creatures that have moods just like anyone else. He was just having an off day."
"I believe it was Big Brown's way of saying 'enough already,” Pamela commented. "His hoof may have been sore, it was treacherously hot and he may have just not felt like performing. Good for him. I think the jockey did the right thing when he eased Big Brown up. I'm just glad we didn't see another speeding ambulance out on the track and another tragedy."
(c) 1994-2008 BetUS
Horse Racing Betting - Lessons From the Belmont
Big Brown was a cinch on paper to win the Belmont Stakes but they don't run them on paper, they run them on the track and one thing horse bettors tend to forget is that horses are not machines, there is blood running through those veins and not octane.
Upsets happen, just ask Native Dancer, who lost only once in his career to Dark Star in the 1953 Kentucky Derby. Or interview the ghost of Man O' War, who also only lost once in the Sanford Stakes getting beat by a runner named Upset. In modern times, Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey knows a little about the subject since he guided Arcangues to victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic at 133-1.
One thing horse bettors can take from this season's Belmont is that to win 3 races in 5 weeks at 3 different tracks and at 3 distinctly different distances takes a Herculean effort.
These horses are not all mature three-year-olds in some cases; they are still growing and still trying to figure out physically who they are.
It reminds me of a situation when I was privy to the Florida State basketball team years ago. My friend and former classmate, Pat Kennedy, was the coach at State at the time and another friend of mine and myself had access to the team during a stint when they played the University of Arizona.
In those days, I was not averse to putting a wager or two on a hoop game now and then but after seeing in real time how these college kids conducted themselves, gambling on college games on a huge basis was no longer on my menu.
The reality of it was, just like with sophomores on the Triple Crown trail, is that college hoopsters are just kids that have no real idea of what's going on and are basically just babies.
Some are immature, some can't handle pressure, and maybe like Big Brown, some can't handle excessive heat or a grueling schedule.
The key to being a champion on the racetrack is the ability to overcome adversity. Granted, all horse bettors saw that Big Brown just wasn't himself and didn't bring his A game but there may have been reasons for that which occurred during the race.
Brown had things pretty much his own way in the other races, but last weekend; he has rank when trying to get off the rail and had to work just to gain a position where he was third.
That kind of pressure affects horses and humans in different ways.
One of the major lessons that astute horse bettors can take away from the Belmont is to project what kind of journey a horse may have against any particular field he must face and if he can handle the type of situation he may be forced into that day.
If a runner is comfortable on the lead, will he be able to gain a clear advantage early? If he is a stone-cold closer, is there enough pace in a particular race to promote a late rally?
The other lesson bettors can take from this classic is what can happen if there is a key scratch. When Casino Drive scratched, the race opened up since there was another pace presser that was not going to be available.
The best horse bettors around learn from the races every single day.
(c) 1994-2008 BetUS
Belmont Stakes Betting Week - Anak Nakal Underlay at 40 to 1
You will rarely see me write that a horse going off at 40 to 1 off track betting odds in the BetUS online racebook future book is an underlay.
It makes sense that almost every horse in whatever race, whether it be a $25,000 claimer or the Grade I Belmont Stakes, has a chance to upset based on the incredible horse betting odds of 40 to 1. Unless there are 40 horses in the race, you have to figure that the chances of something happening to the Belmont betting favorites - - throwing their jockey's, falling to their knees ala War Emblem in 2002 - - requires us as online racebook fans to pay attention to horses going off at 40 to 1 horse racing odds. This is even true if the favorite in question is Big Brown.
But Anak Nakal, currently at those 40 to 1 horse race betting odds in the Belmont Stakes, has no real chance to win the race. Why? He's just not a very good horse. His father, the brilliant Victory Gallop, one of my favorite racehorses of all time, never turned into the type of sire that could produce graded winners. Although Victory Gallop was as gutsy as any horse I've ever seen on the racetrack, his progeny have left something to be desired.
In fact, Winstar Farms, who owned his breeding rights up until this year, sold Victory Gallop to a farm in Turkey. That's right. Not Japan or Hong Kong or Australia or Great Britain - - Turkey.
I didn't even know they raced horses in Turkey. I hope he's alright out there. The former winner of the Belmont Stakes probably deserves something better then running for the Turks. Hey, maybe they treat the horses well out there, right?
In any case the fact that Winstar Farms decided to sell Victory Gallop means that they probably gave up on him as a sire. Does the old guy have one more big surprise in him in Anak Nakal?
Probably not. Anak Nakal just isn't a very good racehorse. I'm perplexed as to why trainer Nick Zito, who pulled a brilliant upset in the 2004 Belmont Stakes with Birdstone, would want to even put Anak Nakal into this race. He really doesn't appear to have the ability to even sniff a top four placing.
Zito would have to pull a miracle upset to get Anak Nakal to run a step in this one. The horse lost by 15 1/4 lengths to Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby. He lost by 3 1/2 lengths to Tale of Ekati in the Wood Memorial. That's not even the worst of it.
Anak Nakal lost by 12 1/2 lengths to a horse named Sierra Sunset in the Grade II Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in March.
Yes, I've been harping on the fact that a lot of 3-year olds start to really blossom at this time of the year, but Anak Nakal does not appear to be one of those 3 year olds that could blossom.
He doesn't have the breeding lines to make a splash in the 2008 Belmont Stakes betting action event of the year.
Because of that, even at the BetUS online future book horse racing betting odds of 40 to 1, Anak Nakal is a decided underlay.
(c) 1994-2008 BetUS
2008 Preakness Betting Bigger Than Ever Dreamed
Smart online gambling websites may be in for quite a treat the month of May as 2008 Preakness betting is already proving to be quite popular, following the single most bet on one day event of the year - the 2008 Kentucky Derby - based on inquires coming into the Gambling911.com site.
Past Preakness races have served as disappointments.
"We would have massive traffic for the Derby then quite the letdown for the Preakness Stakes," explains Gambling911.com Operations Manager, Payton O'Brien.
For whatever the reason, the 2008 Preakness betting frenzy has begun in earnest. Saturday is expected to be another record setting day, according to O'Brien.
"This could have something to do with the double digit odds posted for all horses that are not named Big Brown or it could have to do with the idea that gamblers are willing to risk 1 to 4 odds on a horse they believe is a 'guaranteed' win."
That horse would be Big Brown, who ran the Kentucky Derby in record time.
Gambling portals and affiliates reported to Gambling911.com that several dozen conversions were observed on average for each sponsor book heading into the Derby. A conversion is a signup coming from the portal who deposits real cash money.
(c) Gambling911
Churchill Downs: '08 Derby betting down 3.2%
By Robert Daniel, MarketWatch
Last update: 4:36 a.m. EDT May 4, 2008
TEL AVIV (MarketWatch) - There's another side to the 134th Kentucky Derby - the ground-level betting - and Churchill Downs Inc. reported that total wagering on the race fell 3.2% from the figure in the 2007 race.
The second-largest Derby crowd in history, 157,770 people, watched the favorite, Big Brown, prevail in the field of 20 horses. The total trailed only the crowd of 163,628 who watched Cannonade win the centennial Derby in 1974, the racetrack operator said Saturday.
On-track and off-track wagering on the Derby totaled $114.6 million, compared with the 2007 total of $118.3 million.
At the Churchill Downs track, total betting was flat with a year earlier at $12.1 million. Off-track wagering fell 3.6% to $102.4 million.
Total on-track and off-track wagering on the 12-race card on Kentucky Derby Day slipped 2% to $164.7 million from $168 million a year earlier.
For the entire day's racing card, Churchill Downs returned $134.4 million to bettors. That's 82% of total wagering, the same percentage as it returned on the 2007 racing day.
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CHDN 48.23, -3.72, -7.2%) President Steve Sexton said in the company's statement that off-track wagering was hurt because tens of thousands of customers who bet via advance deposits over the Internet were limited to betting on the Kentucky Derby race and the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic.
"Kentucky horsemen would not permit [advance-deposit] wagering" via certain Websites on the full Kentucky Derby Day card, the executive said.
Additionally, Sexton said, "fewer Florida parimutuel facilities could wager on the entire Derby Day card due to an ongoing dispute with Florida horsemen."
Robert Daniel is MarketWatch's Middle East bureau chief, based in Tel Aviv.
Copyright (c) 2008 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved.
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