Track bias, drug guys, Euro figures

[TGJB]

I\'m going to wait until we post the BC figures before commenting on all that. Probably tomorrow-- haven\'t looked at the work yet.

Also will have the contest story, maybe even better than last year.

[CHOWDERMAN]

jerry, can you give us a tease about what you\'re talking about in the contest...i didn\'t make it this year...

[TGJB]

First of all, as far as me-- I hit the Dirt Mile tri hard, got into top 5 at about 24k ending day one. With a 200k first prize it\'s right to swing hard (a strategy that has had me winning 3 real money contests, with no seconds, thirds or fourths). Took very big swings on day two (three separate shots of 4k or more), tough beats in the turf sprint and sprint, but others took tough beats too. Went down swinging, with a $50 tri box in the Classic that ran 1-4-5 including a 40-1 shot. Flamed out, no complaints.

Anyway-- somewhere on day one Kevin McFarland crushed a race. He\'s the guy who won the last two DMR contest, 30 something kid who was a high school classmate of Christian Hellmers, who himself finished second in this contest the last two years. Both were part of the pick 6 kids that TVG followed years ago when they hit it on BC day, both are brash young guys that rub some people the wrong way-- don\'t know McFarland, but I got to know Christian when he became the American rep of Betfair. He\'s a friend, he can be a pain in the butt but he\'s okay.

So going into day two McFarland is at 100k plus, next guy (I think at that point Christian\'s mom, there with him on a separate ticket) is at maybe 40. A guy named Peter Behr, who evidently was sitting quietly all day at the table with our own Michael Beychok, bet 3k on the Juvy fillies. On the filly that, after a l-o-n-g inquiry got put up at boxcars. So he jumps ahead of McFarland by 15k or so.

McFarland immediately starts taking what some of us might consider crazy shots. Loses 20k on the next race, another 20 on the one after that-- going from 115k to 75k.

Then with 2 or 3 races to go he hits, goes to like 148, with Behr at 130. Nobody else is within 60k of second. Going into the last race it\'s McFarland ahead 146k to 128k.

According to people in the main contest room (I was not there), what then took place was a big argument betwen McFarland and his partner in the contest (don\'t know who that was). Partner wanted to stand pat, McFarland insisted on making a huge bet. Which he did.

Behr bet 4k and lost. McFarland lost 27k on the race. Final score-- Behr 124k, McFarland 119k. So that bet cost 27k plus the 100k difference between first and second. Have to wonder if the two partners are on speaking terms right now.

[magicnight]

Saw Christian interviewed on the HRTV stream. He seemed like a very smart guy and certainly talked a very aggressive game. I can see how he would have success in these things, and, also, how he might rub some people the wrong way.

And, this was the first time I ever wtached an entire card on HRTV and I have one word to describe my feelings ... oy!

[CHOWDERMAN]

jerry, this is a great contest....sorry i wasnt there....can\'t believe it\'s back at santa next year...i have a problem with long flights because of a bad back....wish it was at cd next year, have never been....i know you had input into this format....have you ever considered speaking to the people at the triple crown venues into implementing this format for a one day live money tourney on the triple crown days....

hellmers was a pisser on the simulcast feed....kept talking about having big balls to win money in these tournaments...think he said big balls 3 times before they cut away from him...

thanks for a great seminar jerry....had 2 winners 5 seconds, 5 thirds and managed to lose money....

[RogerC]

Jerry,

 I was there and couldn\'t fly in until friday which was ok until we landed at LAX and sat on the plane for 3hrs. After flying to Long Beach made it to Santa Anita by 2:30 wound up breaking even on friday. Sat had some tough beats betting Rosalind, Judy the Beauty, Gentlemens Bet and Silentio. Also lost a bundle on Smartys Echo in the Juvenile and Twilight Eclipse in the turf. With 3k left cashed some tickets in the classic to collect $3800 and go home with a smile on my face thinking about what next years cup will have to offer. Was really suprised to see the leader bet enough to take himself out of 1st place in the classic. It is a great tournament and unlike some of the other high stake live money tournaments the races are always very wide open and have plenty of opportunities. I was at Keenelands tournament in April and didnt enjoy it because the card that day was rotten. Looking forward to next year..RC

[banditbeau]

Great story and at the same time reflects on racings void.  Why not have this on TV as well?(Besides HRTV apparently)  You can find every kind of poker, game show, etc, on TV, but this event with real money drama is totally unknown to virtually everyone.  Seems like another huge opportunity missed that maybe (hopefully) could be addressed in the future.  bb