tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post5474570188901363375..comments2024-02-27T17:43:37.207-05:00Comments on View From the Racetrack Grandstand: Notes and Auction Block NewsThat Blog Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15487597769210721585noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-30687646762389978802015-12-07T22:05:19.230-05:002015-12-07T22:05:19.230-05:00Many years ago, I owned a speedy trotter racing at...Many years ago, I owned a speedy trotter racing at the Meadowlands who had a lot of leg/hoof problems. One February, after racing poorly for a while, he raced with some light snow falling and a nice soft track and won, paying some $68. I return to the paddock after the race and everyone I knew berated me for not telling them I had a winner on my hands (so they could bet him). I responded that if I knew, I would have bet more than a token $2 to win.<br /><br />A truthful comment in the program for that race would have been "battling leg issues, mostly swimming daily." Then he would have paid triple digits to win. Now imagine if someone <b>WANTS</b> to manipulate the odds for a big payday. It will happen and then what will Gural do? This is well intentioned, but this is horse racing.<br /><br />As for the Chicago tracks, I don't think Balmoral is worth anything. It is in the middle of nowhere, miles south of the end of the Chicago suburbs. There is nothing around it other than farmland. It would cost more money to tear down the track facilities for development than to simply buy the surrounding farmland. It was probably built there because land was cheap. Maybe a speculator will buy it hoping for slots at tracks. Illinois needs the money.<br /><br />Maywood, on the other hand, is in the middle of the metro area and would have redevelopment value.Marvhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07492130857796273001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-11598353417354920812015-12-04T10:57:30.329-05:002015-12-04T10:57:30.329-05:00You say: "It is up to you to decide if these ...You say: "It is up to you to decide if these comments are worthwhile paying attention to or not and how much weight you will give them."<br /><br />But now people will just have the comment to complain about. It's up to you to decide if a trainer has a horse set up for peak performance for a particular race and if there's any reason he might not. That's gambling. Thoroughbred bettors seem to understand trainer intent much more than harness bettors. I'm not sure why that is. <br /><br />Anyway, maybe everyone would be happier if every horse was an obvious 1/2 winner. Oh, wait, we already have that, it's called Harrah's Philadelphia. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com