Las Vegas

[charleym]

TGJB,
I noticed on the drf website that you are on the list of speakers (next to Friedman) scheduled to appear at the handicapping expo in February. Assuming you guys aren\'t on the undercard of some prizefight, what subjects are you going to be speaking about?

P.S. Mall thank you for the file. It was funny and my fiance actually enjoyed it more than I did.

[Silver Charm]

Why no picture??

Maybe you need a poney tail.

[TGJB]

Whadya mean, UNDERcard?

I have no idea what we\'ll be talking about specifically. DRF asked me if I wanted to do it, I said I would think about it but definitely would go if Friedman was going to be there (I told them there was no shot), next thing I knew I got an e-mail with travel info and the same expo schedule you saw naming both of us on the panel. Oh well, maybe he\'ll take it easy on me.

If you are in racing in NY you are kind of removed from the industry (and in fact, our end of the industry is spread all over the place), so I go to whatever events I can that bring those people together-- BC press party, etc. Lots of industry people will be at this thing, and I figure this is a free vacation (DRF foots plane and room). I\'ve heard there are places to get a drink in that town, and our panel comes on the last day. Hopefully I\'ll make it to the stage without sunglasses.

Several contributors to this site have indicated they will be coming to Vegas, but we have yet to hear from Pa. and Fla. Guys?

[OPM]

Maybe both of you will end of killing Beyer who surprisingly will put up a new system based on pace ratings!!!!

[Mall]

I\'m imagining a Richard Eng headline along the lines of \"Variant Splitting Discussion Leads To Head Splitting Melee.\" Assuming all panelists are required to enter, the $10k beat the pros handicapping contest certainly looks interesting, & there\'s little I\'d like to more than spend some time with the guys who hit the 39-1 shot the day before the BC that caused a celebration which almost resulted in a hospital visit for one of them.  During the same time frame, however, my better half & I have been joining the same couples at the same island for more than 10 yrs running, so figuring out a way to attend is going to require a healthy combination of guile & domestic engineering. I\'ll do my best.

High quality pace figures based on the Beyer scale are actually available from Logic Dictates (as are trip notes) for a modest price for NY racing.

[jbelfior]

Classhandicapper--

An excellent product. Another tool that everyone needs in their handicapping tool box. I , however, am one of those people who
look at pace figures with a bit of skepticism. Jockeys have too much influence on them and they are more useful in the cheaper races.

I think where they help in the higher classes is ascertaining if an allowance nw1 or 2 or can step up. Horses that have already achieved nw3 or better status have demonstrated that they can contest whatever pace is thrown at them and still run performance figures competetive within their class.


Good Luck,
Joe B.

I never use the pace figures to try to predict race development. I think that\'s more a matter of jockey, running style, and the inherent early speed the horse has that may not be apparent in the pace figures yet.

I use the pace figures as a component of trip. Most of us would probably agree that extreme paces can impact the final time and result.  

I use the pace figures to help identify those races where the pace might have impacted some or all of the horses in terms of their speed figures. IMO, they also help highlight races that fall into the category of faster/slower than average and not just the extremes.

[Catalin]

It\'s a possibilty for me.  A lot depends on where I\'ll be residing next year. I understand my PA. friend is a maybe as well.  Our last Vegas trip was a blast so I will try my best to make it.

Cat