Bluechip you are right no one has gamed the system and many people strictly play 20-1 shots in every race because it is an effective strategy given the rules of the tournament. I think tony is a little upset with himself that it took him 5 years of losing to figure that out. My point is that they should not give the eclipse to the winner of this tournament as it does fairly represent who the best handicapper is day in and day out over the course of the year but that like the rules of the tournament are not going to change as the nhc actually gets some press coverage that is positive and the sport needs that badly.

I think that the math is irrefutable and the contest format should change but it won’t. It’s frustrating to a guy like tony zhou because he is the best handicapper in the country and never gets the award for it. The eclipse award should be given to the players who consistently cash in big tournaments with different formats not someone who mined 20-1 shots. I really respect tony for speaking up way too much griping at the nhc and way too little problem solving.

One Caroline. It\'s mostly really good cover bands but they have some excellent young musicians who sprinkle in some original stuff. A lot of jazz and blues but I like that. Dango has the downstairs which is all cover bands but they have a couple with large brass sections that knock it out and get the crowd dancing. Jerry last year when I saw you in Saratoga i was at Siro\'s talking to 5 hot girls. Just call me when you are up there and I will get you to the right places

You mean $84,000 in total bets over the 2 days?

Yeah my son is 7 years younger than you and he loves that magic game. I am having a very different experience with horse racing than many that have been posting on this board. the breeders cup in Del Mar was an absolute first class experience. I take a trip every spring and fall to Keeneland where racing is very alive and well. I regret not buying a place in Saratoga as that town has exploded as far as real estate values and now they have some really improved restaurant and bar choices and the live music scene is fantastic. I try to make as many days in Saratoga as I can. Gulfstream has world class racing and an intimate venue which is good for the numbers that racetracks get on a given day. Sure NYRA in the winter is a disaster but there is a lot of fun to have these days if you are a horseplayer. Good luck to you and hope to see you at the races someday

Wow great dialogue I hope it continues. Lots of different points to cover: 1) BCBC I was in the BCBC this past year with a partner and it was the best $5k I ever spent. We came in 11th and got dq\'d up to 10th which makes us one of nine people ever to be moved up in a handicapping contest! That aside, for the 10k we put in we got 2 free clubhouse admissions both days with grandstand seats at the 1/16 pole which retailed for about $1,000. We got free racing forms, programs, lunch and about 15 free drink tickets plus access to a paddock bar that was for tournament players only that was beautiful and held a free champagne toast both days for BCBC players. We also got about $150 off our hotel room for being in the tournament. All told I thought it was about $2,000 worth of free stuff. Even if we came in last, I\'m not sure how we could have spent a better 10k gambling the whole year.
2) Christian: Keep up the good work! You have the understanding of the contests and the stature to make a difference. I think the small contests where the winner gets a free entry into the big contests is the way to go. It\'s the dollar and a dream mentality the sport needs. I also agree about cash tournaments as opposed to the NHC tournament which forces you to bet certain races a certain way. the object of the game should be to maximize return. Hopefully, you and others can get in the ear of the NTRA and change that for good.
3) Our 31 year new player: The World Series of Poker is won almost every year by someone younger than 25 many of which played in small tournaments to get in. Take Christians advice and play these tournaments on paper until you hone your skills and then start entering the feeder tournaments. It will be a challenge and a low cost way to get started.
4) Advancing the game: So how much will Christian\'s Crusade help the game? Who knows but it can\'t hurt. The 800 pound gorilla in the room is horse ownership and how it almost impossible to make money owning horses. I own a small piece of about 15 horses some claimers some bought at auction and some bred. I would be happy to lose 20% of my investment each year but 40% is more like it.I do it because of my love of the game and the fact that my kids are out of college and I can afford it. Read Alan Schuback\'s article in the Paulick report about French racing. It\'s enlightening on the subject. Unless horse racing does something to make ownership more attractive, less and less people will buy and breed horses which makes the racing worse and the gambling less exciting. I would love to hear ideas on what racing could do.
5) Pegasus Handicapping Contest: I\'m in and I\'m issuing a challenge to Christian my score vs yours winner gets a free drink at the Breezeway bar. I\'m sure I will be buying but considering my overall bar tab my accountant won\'t notice. Hope to get a chance to speak with you there and let me know what we can do as players to help these contests grow

Just wanted to post about the positive experience I had in Saratoga with the Thorograph players services. I was up about 15 or so days for the meet and I was able to get two clubhouse seats for free every day and many days I got 4 free seats.It was about $1000 worth of free seats which were in section d row d for those not familiar with the layout it\'s the 1/16 pole. I hope more people join as the more of us that do the more leverage Jerry and Jeff will have to get us more amenities in the future. thanks to all for making that happen E

I will be there on Saturday. Tends to be a chalky day as TP dominates but you see some great horses and I agree with you about the track. I am always stunned that people don\'t rave about it. I\'m a big Irish guy with a set of thorograph just in case you see me. good luck

You are so right. The silence is unbelieveable. DRF hasn\'t written one article about this. The whole thing is sad

I love Durkin and he is still better than most. Someday you guys will be old too

Joe Greene is that you? E

For those of you who have not had the pleasure to meet the man, I would say no one knew. He is as approachable and affable person you will ever meet. He is a regular in Floral Park watering holes but is not a big drinker. I once told him that his call of the Personal Ensign Breeders Cup win over Winning Colors was the best call of all time and he told me all of the winners on the card as if it happened yesterday! In my mind he will always be the greatest racecaller of all time and I hope this decision helps him to live a longer, happier life

I never try to tell people how to run their business and if you had those kind of sales I would stick to selling it online as well. Rags got 70 or so people to the city seminar. I\'m a stokbroker and after any paricularly smart move I try to remember to stay humble. It has saved me a lot of money over the years. all the best E

Jerry I was at Len\'s seminar and bought your entire $50 package. If you need proof I posted last week thanking you for your picks. I also have all the Rags and the entry sheet Len hands out at the seminar. Your numbers were better, your analysis was better and anyone who denies is should be considered delusional. I hate all the negative back and forth between the people involved. The sheets have always been fun to me and I go to all of Len\'s NY seminar because I love watching it live as opposed to on my computer. I would love for you to do your seminars live and hope you do because this is the only good that will ever come out of this debate. If Len and Vito can\'t admit you bested him this time, it is a waste of time to even talk about it. Maybe this gets me banned from the sheets website but I will never back away from the truth. Thanks again I killed them in the Breeders Cup and really had fun handicapping and betting the races. Stay humble and keep up the good work E

Just read your analysis Jerry and I loved it. Good luck tomorrow. I just wanted to mention that I ran into Rick Mettee at Belmont and asked him about Sarah Louise and he loved the way she train this past Saturday. I only asked him because I love lightly raced fillies in the Breeders Cup and remembered how good this horse was last year. If she loses, don\'t get mad at me. I will be ripping up many tickets E