Shows up on the Turf in Arlington Million. Its a decent but maybe not great field.
Integration loves the Track. Was just sandwiched by two Grade One next out winners and finally catches Firm Turf. Was runnerup last year. Is certainly \"In it to win it\".
Fort Washington just doesnt like Churchill Downs. Is Training well and will get some pace to run at in this field. Grand Sonata is steady but might not be good enough. However, if the others fall down, he will be right there
So here we are with Dan. Never been on Turf. Was recently only beaten two lengths by the two best dirt horses horses in the World. Was a legit Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runnerup. Something tells me last weeks work showed them something but it wasn\'t the Bullet turned in by Integration. It was just enough to convince the connections to try this move. This could be a massive BUST. Or Dan is the second coming of Lure once they tried grass with him. Once you place your Bet and the gate opens as Eric Clapton sang. \"Don\'t forget this fact, you can\'t get it back.\" Make sure the Rush is worth it. And potential hangover too....
Good Luck today everyone
No excuses to be made here. People involved were Super excited to get Dan on Turf. BC plans were in the background. It didnt work out and now they go back to the drawing board. Do they point for the Clark and try Turf again.
For the record what did I say. If the others stumbled Grand Sonata would be right there. Fort Washington was doing well and was going to have more pace. 75% of the play was Dan to win with the other 25% split between those two on top of Dan in an Exacta. I didnt give up on FW I just didn\'t make any money.
I sent Congrats to ownership and they are on Cloud Nine. They were buying more horses at the Sales last week and this is what its all about. Keeping people who have the money in the game. It also looks like Colonial is trying to revive this Day with some atmosphere. People were dressed up. I saw Manila win in Chicago. The Tin Man and was there for the Miracle Million.
Certain Track Ownership Groups can not be allowed to destroy every Racing Tradition they touch for their Owner Personal Profits (they Own 10% of Companys Stock themselves). Allowing HUGE last second money dumps from wagering syndicates who get in at a volume discount and play thru Hubs in South Dakota or the Dark Web....because they own 10% of the Company Stock and they are leveraged with $5B in Debt! And certain Trainers can not be allowed to win at a 35% clip with miracle Moveups off Barn Switches and people act like \"Nothing to See Here\".
Make it even and fair. Because everyone I just mentioned is gambling in some shape or form and I didn\'t even mention the Bankers. Everyone these days likes a little action. And nothing wrong with that....
Congrats to Fort Washington, Great ride by Alvarado. What a shame it was not run at Arlington. All for tradition, but they should rename the Beverley D. and drop the Arlington from the Million.
Who wants to reminisce about destroying one of the best tracks in the world?
Roman Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------
> Who wants to reminisce about destroying one of the
> best tracks in the world?
Roman, not only the prettiest, cleanest, most modern track I\'d been to (box holder a few years in 90\'s after I got the bug), but polite and helpful people in all departments. Mr D would not like racing today, but I think he\'d be a leader in fixing it. He was all about standards and doing the right thing - from personal experience.
Knowing that, is it appropriate that they still have a race named after Mr. D\'s wife?
After what they did to that track?
Races run at the wrong distances, CAW\'s, voided claims by vets after they win by open lengths, short fields, gate scratches, Mike Repole. Why do we still play?
Roman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Knowing that, is it appropriate that they still
> have a race named after Mr. D\'s wife?
> After what they did to that track?
>
> Races run at the wrong distances, CAW\'s, voided
> claims by vets after they win by open lengths,
> short fields, gate scratches, Mike Repole. Why do
> we still play?
Well, this is the question of the year of course...we want quick satisfaction - 2 mins to win/lose, not 2 hrs baseball, 3 hrs football, who cares about soccer? Hockey? I can watch all day...and have the back/nose/hips to prove it!
Roman,
That\'s a great question. I would say there are a multitude of reasons obviously for people\'s motivation to play. Addiction, Competition, Desire for Money, Social Component, Intellectual Pursuit, Boredom, Etc.
Ultimately though, the best answer is likely the intellectual challenge is unmatched compared to all other gambling endeavors. Only so many blackjack combinations or roulette combinations can land on the table or the wheel. Some would argue horses running in circles with numbers on the back is the same type of situation. But quite obviously, when one is in tune with the handicapping, the game has logical outcomes that one can mentally find their way to **Predicting the future** (which I think is a powerful drug in and of itself especially when the game is making sense). AKA **Being Right!** Now add in the mental challenge of gambling on the outcome and deciding how to make a profit with so many wagering options and the complete picture of why it is such an amazing game is obvious. The horses are majestic, the sights and sounds are out of this world at the right race tracks both big league and minor league, and the social interactions are like no one else. But ultimately, the handicapping and gambling intellectual challenges are unmatched in other gambling choices including sports and poker.
A 2018 study from China suggested that older adults who participated in intellectual activities like betting on horse racing (among other hobbies like reading, board games, and cards) were found to have a lower risk of developing dementia. The study followed 15,000 folks over 65 in Hong Kong where we know racing is King. So, you can all tell your loved ones that handicapping and betting on the horses is payment for avoiding Dementia/Alzheimer\'s or at least delaying it. :)
While at Saratoga I took a quick gander in their little shrine behind FourStarDave for a few minutes while clearing my mind between tourney plays. A Mary Lou Whitney quote was on the wall and it said \"Horse racing is where I feel most alive, and at home.\"
For me, that\'s the best answer for why I play. I think it is also true for many who don\'t even gamble on the game and are owners, jockeys, trainers, analysts, bloodstock agents, farms, etc etc.
I share your passion for the sport. It is the best sport and form of gaming , and it is time for it to be respected, and nurtured.
Not like I am ever leaving the sport, I am a lifer. But the anxiety I get because of what seems like a race to the bottom, and disregard of major circuits. Asking for the sport to thrive in all areas is not a big ask.
To back up Fairmounts point.
https://neurosciencenews.com/iq-horse-betting-21631/
We are just a bunch of freaking genius guys disguised as degenerate gamblers.
Fairmount1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Roman,
>
> That\'s a great question. I would say there are a
> multitude of reasons obviously for people\'s
> motivation to play. Addiction, Competition,
> Desire for Money, Social Component, Intellectual
> Pursuit, Boredom, Etc.
>
> Ultimately though, the best answer is likely the
> intellectual challenge is unmatched compared to
> all other gambling endeavors. Only so many
> blackjack combinations or roulette combinations
> can land on the table or the wheel. Some would
> argue horses running in circles with numbers on
> the back is the same type of situation. But quite
> obviously, when one is in tune with the
> handicapping, the game has logical outcomes that
> one can mentally find their way to **Predicting
> the future** (which I think is a powerful drug in
> and of itself especially when the game is making
> sense). AKA **Being Right!** Now add in the
> mental challenge of gambling on the outcome and
> deciding how to make a profit with so many
> wagering options and the complete picture of why
> it is such an amazing game is obvious. The horses
> are majestic, the sights and sounds are out of
> this world at the right race tracks both big
> league and minor league, and the social
> interactions are like no one else. But
> ultimately, the handicapping and gambling
> intellectual challenges are unmatched in other
> gambling choices including sports and poker.
>
> A 2018 study from China suggested that older
> adults who participated in intellectual activities
> like betting on horse racing (among other hobbies
> like reading, board games, and cards) were found
> to have a lower risk of developing dementia. The
> study followed 15,000 folks over 65 in Hong Kong
> where we know racing is King. So, you can all
> tell your loved ones that handicapping and betting
> on the horses is payment for avoiding
> Dementia/Alzheimer\'s or at least delaying it. :)
>
> While at Saratoga I took a quick gander in their
> little shrine behind FourStarDave for a few
> minutes while clearing my mind between tourney
> plays. A Mary Lou Whitney quote was on the wall
> and it said \"Horse racing is where I feel most
> alive, and at home.\"
>
> For me, that\'s the best answer for why I play. I
> think it is also true for many who don\'t even
> gamble on the game and are owners, jockeys,
> trainers, analysts, bloodstock agents, farms, etc
> etc.
One of the best posts I have ever read on here.
Good Luck,
Joe B.
Joe B - could not agree more. Fairmount nailed it. Keeping all of us on our toes mentally at retirement age can be a challenge if you don\'t have the discipline to keep the mind in shape as much as the body.
My old father in law did the NYT crossword puzzle every day - along with the DRF for Oaklawn! He\'d walk around the house asking if anyone had seen his pencil...it was in his teeth! True tale! But he could tell you pretty much whatever the Trnr/Jock combo on the card that day was the one to watch.
Whether I\'m playing or not, I handicap some track every day.
Anyone at DMR this week?
I have a son who is autistic, and has an IQ of 167.
I joke that it is inherited from me.
They call me an idiot savant at work, so there it is.
My family laughs at me when I’m looking for my reading glasses and there on my head.
My wife and I quote
“How the hell do you remember a horse race you won or a football bet you won years ago but you can’t remember what happened last week?â€
Priorities I tell her.
Such simple creatures we are.