From tommyc

[tommyc]

I would like express my extreme disappointment for myself, and the HTR community, for my lack of success at the NTRA Championships.

You guys' support was the best, exhilarating, and I don't take that lightly. To have a lame finish like that was a crusher.

I played well, had two small mistakes that caused no harm, HTR worked wonderfully and I have no excuses.

I will be back next year....and I will do better.

Thanks guys,
tommyc

[jbshoulda]

Tommy,
You sound like me talking when we were in Reno. Take your own advice you gave me back then. To win or even get a check in these tournaments is tough. All you can do is put yourself in position to score and then Lady Luck takes over. Just like a race horse, somedays you got it and somedays you don't. I have taken your advice and am doing better, not great, but much better than before. For that I thank you. I would also like to thank Ken and all other members here for improving my game. I have been a member for 2 1/2 years now and agree with you about how good all the people here are. Trying to get to Vegas in April for the next tournament, and oh yes, I'll bring your ice cream girl.

John

[Donnie]

Apology not acceptted! Because there is none needed! I only hope to get there (to the finals)next year...to me that is a huge accomplishment in and of itself!

Nothing to be ashamed of....we all have those bad days and that is exactly what a contest like this comes down to...who's the best horse on that day.

I am expecting you and Mike to "show me the ropes' next Jan, tho!

The invite is still open for this summer to qualify thru PRM....looked back to see why I missed it last year....I had to attend this silly convention in Las Vegas last year.... some group called HTR, or sumthin!:D

[tomcat]

Hey TommyC, just remember you had the guts to try. A lot of these so called handicappers (that we read about every day) don't even try.

It is better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all.

You are #1 in my book!!!

Tomcat

[JimG]

TommyC:

I do not know you but have been following your exploits since before your big tournament win last year. If I had the success you have with the horses, I would not apologize for anything.

You are obviously one heck of a player as are many others on this board. I thought you would find it interesting that a guy named Terry Bjork on the Derby List was handicapping the field of handicappers from the Daily Racing Form write-ups.

Anyhow, Bjork made you the favorite in the field even though he said he did not know you at all. That speaks volumes to your success and gives you an excuse since you were the favorite and we all know favorites lose more than they win <g>.


Jim

[Swope]

Tommy, I've been reading about you on this board. Go spend some money. Then say, 'how did I get this money? Oh, yeah, it's from all those other tournaments. I'm doin' okay."

[JAH]

Tommy,

I agree with Donnie- no apology necessary. Hey, even Tiger Woods has lackluster performances now and then. (Maybe God was taking a siesta!) While I don't know you personally, I do know this: you'll be back. I'd bet on it.

[MikeDee]

Tommy, I'ld be tickled to death if I could do half as good as you do in these tourney's. you'll be back

[ronnie h]

hey Tommy C . god might have been a mexican but i think he had red hair and was left handed and he and i will be there next year. if one think about it what you have accomplish to get there is unreal

[ronnie h]

To the guys in the contest
Do you all have certain tracks or do you all play all tracks?

[Carl]

You gotta play "bad" horses to win a tournament, sometimes they're gonna run "bad".

Great thing about your handicapping though, a lot of times they run good. Much more so that for many of us wannabes who play strange ones.

So, I hear they run around in circles again tomorrow, go get 'em then. You're an inspiration to us all...........

[Glen]

It's ok TC. There will be other days....Guess god was not wearing his Fiesta Sombero over the weekenb but maybe maybe something else...

There will be other goodies for you Tommy...Just a matter of time.

[hurrikane]

Tommy, The one thing I respect about you the most is your humble-ness(is that a word?)

would love it if you gave a play by play of your picks..why you picked them., the one's you passed and why?

Maybe more important what were the 2 mistakes you made and why?

Love to learn from the best.

Hope you will open a gate for a fan!

Greg

[Cliff]

Tommy C,

I think we need to have a "board" meeting at FR and get your mind refreshed. First round is on me.

Cliff

[Ken Massa]

Tommy will like Cliff's idea! We will have that 'board meeting' again in Vegas in June at the Stardust.

Methinks the supermex and supertex (Mike Mayo) had a little too much fun to be thinking about horses in Las Vegas. Penthouse playmates, lavish (free) food and drink, parties every hour, reporters, old friends, media, cocktail girls, laughs and craziness and boooooze galore - 24 hours a day.

I know Tommy well, and I can guarantee he's not apologizing for his tournament performance in Vegas. The only thing he feels bad about is that the rest of us weren't there to enjoy it with him! He'll be baaaack at the Orleans in April - loaded for bear.

We'll have a report from the Dallas guys and the tournament story in the upcoming newsletter.

The rest of us need to think about qualifying early. Find those easy contests at the local track and get your spot secured for 2003. Winning the NTRA final is 90% luck because they require betting mandatory races. Only about a dozen plays are selected by the handicapper. So it's like making an Olympic Team, it is not the winning that matters for most participants, it is just getting to the party that is the real goal.

[tommyc]

To jbshoulda, JimG, Swope,JAH,Mike Dee,...Thank You Guys.

to Donnie: Thanks for the kind thoughts. Don't worry, I'm NOT apologizing nor am I ashamed..simply very disappointed for all of us.
From the responses on this thread, I think there may be a bunch of US to attack the NTRA next year.
Let's go get 'em.

To tomcat: Thanks

To reddy: No certain tracks, I try to "cherry pick" the best plays from all tracks...THAT'S the advantage HTR gives us. (One of the advantages)

To Carl: Thank You

To Glen: You're right, it just wasn't in His plan for me this time....I gotta' remember that.

To 'Kane: Let's see what Ken does in the Feb newsletter. After that, if you want more details, we'll get together. And....Thank You.

To Cliff: Next week for sure.

To Ken: You 'da man !

[MtKen]

TommyC:

Whenever I have a bad day, week or whatever playing the ponies my pep talk to myself is this: "TommyC". Then, like Carl, I get ready for them to run around in circles again.

Ken

PS: At least I know I can't blame the software anymore:)

[dawgfan5]

Tommy,

The success you have had speaks for itself. Everyone runs into a down cycle at times and not every photo goes the way we want.

Just getting there is great, and I know you will be back.

Hope we can make The Orleans this spring.

John B.