Thanks to the popularity of the Meadowlands product in general and the Pick 5 and early Pick 4 in particular, the guarantees for these wagers will increase starting Thursday, February 14. The Pick 5's guarantee will increase from $15,000 to $25,000 while the early Pick 4 will increase from $25,000 to $35,000. The late Pick 4's guarantees remain the same as $50,000 on Thursdays and Fridays with a $75,000 guarantee on Saturday evenings. The takeout for the Pick 4s and Pick 5 remains at 15%.
For those who like tables, here are the revised guarantees effective on Valentine's Day:
$.50 Cent Pick 5 (Races 1-5): $25,000 Guaranteed (15% Takeout)
· $1 Early Pick 4 (Races 3-6): $35,000 Guaranteed (15% Takeout)
· $1 Late Pick 4 (Races 7-10): $50,000 Guaranteed (Thursday and Friday) (15% Takeout); $75,000 Guaranteed (Saturday) (15% Takeout)
Saturday, February 9, 2013
A Bad Bill; A Better Bill
In Maryland, the state legislature is attempting to take away private property rights from track owners thanks to a bill filed by Senator Simonaire. If Senate Bill 858 becomes law, the only exclusions from racetracks which will not be eligible for appeal to the Maryland Racing Commission (MRC) would be those involving termination of employment of a track employee or an ejection resulting from a suspension issued by the state. All other expulsions would be appealable to the MRC.
The bill requires the track to give a written explanation as to why the individual has been expelled from the track within 24 hours of the expulsion and gives the individual affected 20 days to appeal to the MRC. If the MRC finds the expulsion improper, it may order the track to allow the said individual to return to the track.
This bill, if approved would set racing back with regards to integrity. I will be the first person to agree usage of the right of exclusion granted as a private property owner should be used judiciously. But to ask a track operator to give written notice for the reason of exclusion sets the operator up for civil action such as libel and/or slander. As such, tracks would be hesitant to use their private property rights.
In addition, a track trying to protect the integrity of their racing product could be impaired by the racing commission. Too many times we find state racing commissions unwilling to get involved with long term suspensions or license revocations because they lack the will or financial ability to get tied up in court for a long period of time. Tracks, through their private property rights, do not need to worry about being tied up in court so they are able to protect their 'brand' by removing such individuals from participating at their track.
Instead of the proposed bill, I would suggest a different bill be considered. The bill I would propose would require any exclusion of a horsemen's group representative be reviewed by the MRC to ensure a person was not excluded because of their activities on behalf of the horsemen's group. In addition, the track should be required periodically to provide the MRC with a list of individuals excluded so the racing commission can ensure the exclusionary right is not being abused and if necessary order corrective remedies.
The rights of a private track operator to exclude certain individuals must be preserved but I do believe the state has the responsibility to ensure such rights are not abused. I urge Maryland legislators to defeat Senate Bill 858.
The bill requires the track to give a written explanation as to why the individual has been expelled from the track within 24 hours of the expulsion and gives the individual affected 20 days to appeal to the MRC. If the MRC finds the expulsion improper, it may order the track to allow the said individual to return to the track.
This bill, if approved would set racing back with regards to integrity. I will be the first person to agree usage of the right of exclusion granted as a private property owner should be used judiciously. But to ask a track operator to give written notice for the reason of exclusion sets the operator up for civil action such as libel and/or slander. As such, tracks would be hesitant to use their private property rights.
In addition, a track trying to protect the integrity of their racing product could be impaired by the racing commission. Too many times we find state racing commissions unwilling to get involved with long term suspensions or license revocations because they lack the will or financial ability to get tied up in court for a long period of time. Tracks, through their private property rights, do not need to worry about being tied up in court so they are able to protect their 'brand' by removing such individuals from participating at their track.
Instead of the proposed bill, I would suggest a different bill be considered. The bill I would propose would require any exclusion of a horsemen's group representative be reviewed by the MRC to ensure a person was not excluded because of their activities on behalf of the horsemen's group. In addition, the track should be required periodically to provide the MRC with a list of individuals excluded so the racing commission can ensure the exclusionary right is not being abused and if necessary order corrective remedies.
The rights of a private track operator to exclude certain individuals must be preserved but I do believe the state has the responsibility to ensure such rights are not abused. I urge Maryland legislators to defeat Senate Bill 858.
Saturday Briefs and History
Dean Towers writes in Saturday's Harness Racing Update about what it really means now that Ontario's changes to racing is taking place, the goodbyes to friends and the kicking people to the streets. This is the real shame of what is happening in Ontario. It's nothing personal, strictly business. Tell that to them. Maybe this will be the wake up call the industry needs to make the necessary changes so this doesn't happen again in the future.
John Brennan in The Record reports on the Legislature's leadership and NJTHA's briefs, responding to the question of the constitutionality of PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act). For the NJ Attorney General's response, click here.
Here is another photo moment out of the history books of harness racing.
What makes this photo special? That night, Del Insko became the first driver to win both ends of the Daily Double at Fairmount Park at the ripe old age of 17. A crowd of 3,845 were in attendance to see the historic event. While the Illinois track is still hanging on as a thoroughbred only track, it raced standardbreds through 1999.
John Brennan in The Record reports on the Legislature's leadership and NJTHA's briefs, responding to the question of the constitutionality of PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act). For the NJ Attorney General's response, click here.
Here is another photo moment out of the history books of harness racing.
 |
| Del Insko and Delmar Direct in the winners circle at Fairmount Park in Collinsville, IL, 1948 Photo courtesy of Bonnie and Tom Insko |
What makes this photo special? That night, Del Insko became the first driver to win both ends of the Daily Double at Fairmount Park at the ripe old age of 17. A crowd of 3,845 were in attendance to see the historic event. While the Illinois track is still hanging on as a thoroughbred only track, it raced standardbreds through 1999.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Stung for Half-In, Half-Out; PA Takeout Rates
Now, while I do read the Fines and Suspensions with regularity, I can't say I seem them every week. However, what I saw this week did make me feel good as it was the first time I saw a penalty at the Meadowlands for driving half-in, half-out. For this penalty, the driver in question was given a $300 fine, appearing to be for a first offense.
Now, I don't know how often the judges have been citing drivers for racing half-in, half-out and making their pockets lighter or if unless flagrant, the judges have been just warning drivers about it, but it'd be nice to see all drivers who violate the rule get dinged in the pocket.
For those few who still wager in Pennsylvania, I thought you'd enjoy seeing the takeout rates for 2013 at the three harness tracks in the Keystone State. Considering the rates in comparison to others, The Meadows is the most playable as long as you avoid the Trifecta. Pocono Downs is okay for the Double and Exactas but a bad play for all other wagers including WPS. Harrah's Philadelphia is okay to play as long as you avoid the Pick-3, Trifecta, and Superfectas.
2013 Takeout Rates at Pennsylvania Tracks
Pocono Downs
Win, Place Show 19%
Double, Exacta 20%
Pick Three, Pick Four, Trifecta, Superfecta 30%
Trifecta 35%
Pick Three 26%
Pick Four 15%
Trifecta 30%
Superfectas 32%
For comparison purposes, here are the takeout rates for the Meadowlands:
Win, Place, Show 17%
Exacta, Doubles 19%
Now, I don't know how often the judges have been citing drivers for racing half-in, half-out and making their pockets lighter or if unless flagrant, the judges have been just warning drivers about it, but it'd be nice to see all drivers who violate the rule get dinged in the pocket.
For those few who still wager in Pennsylvania, I thought you'd enjoy seeing the takeout rates for 2013 at the three harness tracks in the Keystone State. Considering the rates in comparison to others, The Meadows is the most playable as long as you avoid the Trifecta. Pocono Downs is okay for the Double and Exactas but a bad play for all other wagers including WPS. Harrah's Philadelphia is okay to play as long as you avoid the Pick-3, Trifecta, and Superfectas.
2013 Takeout Rates at Pennsylvania Tracks
Pocono Downs
Win, Place Show 19%
Double, Exacta 20%
Pick Three, Pick Four, Trifecta, Superfecta 30%
The Meadows
Win, Place, Show 17%
Exactas, Multi-Race Wagers 20%Trifecta 35%
Harrah’s Philadelphia
Win, Place, Show 17%
Exactas, Doubles 20%Pick Three 26%
Pick Four 15%
Trifecta 30%
Superfectas 32%
For comparison purposes, here are the takeout rates for the Meadowlands:
Win, Place, Show 17%
Exacta, Doubles 19%
Trifecta 25%
Superfecta, Pick Three 20%
Pick Four 15%
The Silence is Deafening
The reaction from New Jersey horse racing regarding Christie's conditional veto (or acceptance) of Internet gaming has been deafening. Oops, make that non-existent. Thoroughbred, standardbred interests, not a peep has been heard in response to the conditional veto which will result in the bill being modified to accept the Governor's changes with the revised bill then being signed by Christie.
Quite honestly, I am unsure why there is no response from industry leaders in New Jersey. Am I wrong and there will be no impact on gambling on horses once casino games are played online? Does the industry know of people who will be challenging the legislation in court delaying it for some time? Maybe the industry has developed a Woody Allen moment and said "What's the Use"?
Maybe it has more to do with not wanting to upset legislators and the Governor who despite passing this law has been somewhat friendly towards racing, passing some legislation that has benefited the sport. After all, you don't want to tick off those you need.
While I don't know the reason why the response has been muted, I hope New Jersey's racing leaders know what they are doing because right now, other than Gural's one remark about the pending legislation, racing has been quite, muted. You can say the silence has been deafening.
Kentucky has recognized reality and a bill has been proposed to open the KYSS to horses sired by non-Kentucky based stallions. Of course, there will be residency standards to allow the off-spring of non-Kentucky sired horses to participate. This makes sense. If you can't get stallions to your state, you may as well attract broodmares to your state so the standardbred farms can become nurseries for foals New Jersey, with a total of five stallions in state would be wise to adopt a similar policy.
Since Balmoral/Maywood is in the middle of their two week vacation and the expected blizzard is closing tracks up and down the Eastern Seaboard you may be wondering where racing will be today and tonight. Tracks which have not cancelled as of now are: Buffalo Raceway, Cal Expo, Freehold Raceway, Northfield Park, Northville Downs, and The Meadows. Of course, the Canadian tracks are likely racing as well.
Quite honestly, I am unsure why there is no response from industry leaders in New Jersey. Am I wrong and there will be no impact on gambling on horses once casino games are played online? Does the industry know of people who will be challenging the legislation in court delaying it for some time? Maybe the industry has developed a Woody Allen moment and said "What's the Use"?
Maybe it has more to do with not wanting to upset legislators and the Governor who despite passing this law has been somewhat friendly towards racing, passing some legislation that has benefited the sport. After all, you don't want to tick off those you need.
While I don't know the reason why the response has been muted, I hope New Jersey's racing leaders know what they are doing because right now, other than Gural's one remark about the pending legislation, racing has been quite, muted. You can say the silence has been deafening.
Kentucky has recognized reality and a bill has been proposed to open the KYSS to horses sired by non-Kentucky based stallions. Of course, there will be residency standards to allow the off-spring of non-Kentucky sired horses to participate. This makes sense. If you can't get stallions to your state, you may as well attract broodmares to your state so the standardbred farms can become nurseries for foals New Jersey, with a total of five stallions in state would be wise to adopt a similar policy.
Since Balmoral/Maywood is in the middle of their two week vacation and the expected blizzard is closing tracks up and down the Eastern Seaboard you may be wondering where racing will be today and tonight. Tracks which have not cancelled as of now are: Buffalo Raceway, Cal Expo, Freehold Raceway, Northfield Park, Northville Downs, and The Meadows. Of course, the Canadian tracks are likely racing as well.
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