HTR Summer Seminar 2004

[km]

I have some preliminary seminar information for this summer.

The date = Wed July 14
The Place = Las Vegas

This date coincides with the Gold Coast tournament that begins the next day. Holding the seminar the day before a tourney was very successful in Lexington. But I want to make it clear that this seminar in no way obligates you to participate in the tournament. Holding it on a Wed also is easier on arrival and departure in Vegas and the city is less crowded.

Accomodations, specific seminar room location, costs, etc will be announced later.

The seminar will cover new material in HTR2 and we will have more emphasis on research methodology this time. God willing we'll have Donnie, Mike Dee and Tomcat back as hosts. My goal is to present a general overview session dealing with new stuff in HTR2 first. Then have 3 optional sessions:

1) betting strategy with Tomcat
2) Access fundamentals, intermediate and advanced topics with Donnie and MikeDee
3) tournament strategy and longshot identification with yours truly.

My hope is start the seminar around 1pm and then let Donnie and Mike finish it as late as the last person needs to stay that night for the most advanced Access topics. Those that want to study for the tournament may feel free to exit at any time that evening.

Since the tournament lasts through Saturday, we will also make ourselves available for informal gatherings, one on one discussion and lots of Q&A without feeling rushed. Those that participate in the tournament will not be unsettled by any of this and can attend any or all of the sessions. Those that don't join in the tournament can either go home with new knowledge immediately or stick around and play the horses and socialize with the HTR gang.

I hope a new and flexible approach to the event meets with everyone's approval along with combining it with tournament to make it a serious handicapper's weekend not to be missed. Your feedback appreciated.

[dehere]

Ken, I definitely want to attend the seminar this year. However, after having gone through the contest this week end I wonder if I will be able to focus on a seminar in case I decide to enter the Gold Coast contest (obviously, I have become a huge fan of contests of late)? Does it make any sense to have the seminar following the contest rather than before?

[km]

dehere back in VA and ready for more - nice going in Vegas!

I can't see how a seminar on Wed afternoon would affect tournament preparations, in fact it should help a great deal to get new information and begin the mental preparation. It was very effective last summer in Lexington and i think everyone felt it was a benefit having the seminar the night before the tournament. Tournament players can leave the seminar anytime they want to get ready. The bulk of the presentations will be over by 6pm and the later portions will be optional. But we will certainly remain sensitive to this.

Everyone is exhausted after a big Vegas contest, including me, it would be hard to muster a lot of energy for a seminar after a 3-day marathon tournament -- we just want to go home and lie down! It would be tough to do it afterwords, but let's see what others have to say, I'm always flexible, thank you for the input.

[jbshoulda]

Ken,
LeakyEyes and I think this is a great idea. What better way to "learn and earn" all in the same week. Count us in. :)

[tommyc]

Ken, like KEE last year, close proximity to a tournament is Value Added ! I found the discussions at the seminar on the day before to be a really good benefit. Count me in.

tommyc

[MikeDee]

It is looking good for me as well.

Is this the one where the tournment is at the Suncoast?

Do you know if the entry fee going to be $500 or $1000? and if $1000 how many can can be on a single entry?

What is the policy on laptops? If they are going to put laptop users in the food room. It sure would be nice if they would make the tables in close proximity to electrical outlets reserved for laptop users. They could take a corner of the room provide an electrical source, tape down the cords for us and others.

[km]

Gold Coast Hotel is the sole location for this contest - entry fee $400 - W+P format.

The situation with the laptops appears to be fluid. We'll see what happens at the Orleans in March and speak with managmenent - should be ok if we convince them our laptops are not 'communicating' !

[km]

Received a contract from the Gold Coast that confirms our meeting on July 14. Mucho thanks to TommyC for calling management and securing our space on the desired date. We'll have more details as the event grows closer. Expenses in Vegas for our seminar participants will be very modest.

[zimal2]

I'm definitely interested in the seminar but unclear on the content. As a new HTR user, my interest would be in seeing how others handicap/bet using HTR and actual race examples(or live races).
Is the format pretty much set, or will it/can it include any such?
Zim

[km]

Zim - the entire purpose of the seminar is offer new tools and insights that are immediately applicable as soon as you leave the room. We will have a complete itinerary and topic list as we move closer to the event. You won't be disappointed, our meetings have the most progressive content in the business. But the key to our seminar success is the people you will meet and interact with -- a more intelligent and friendly group of horseplayers cannot be found and they won't suffer a minute of hype or PR from me - it's all substance.

[Bob Stark]

I'm glad the seminar is back in my backyard. Let me know, if I can assist in any way.

I would like to see one of our expirenced handicappers take a look at one of the races
for the next day, and go through a dissecting process as he or she does to
pull out a winner.

Since the Gold Coast is a W&P tourney, there are some "goofy"
type horses that do run 2nd a lot, after having real ugly back form. They are the ones
that split your "perfect" exacta, and pay great to place.

Our HTR sheets are like a Racing Form. Everyone can read them differently, and get different
results. I wish there would be time for a post-mortem of the days races, as we all can learn by our mistakes. The worst thing is to keep on doing the same thing, over and over, and expect a different result...I believe that is called insanity!

I'm looking forward to July, and also seeing some of you in March at the Orleans.

[dehere]

A friend of mine who I think is really one of the world's great handicappers always made a habit of that. Regardless how much he had had to drink at the track he would always take the Form home with him and do a post mortem - to learn where he had gone wrong. I don't bet the way this guy does - he's a real big money on good favorites to show kinda guy - but he always seems to come home having made money whereas I often come home having gone south at some point. Anyway, the point is, I really agree with what Bob had to say. While we're all exhausted after a contest, a post mortem would be invaluable for future contests. I still intend to do one of sorts re the Nationals while my memories are still fresh.

Before I let that thought get away here are a couple of things I learned - for what they're worth - from this past week end's event.

1) It is absolutely crucial to hit something early. While it is good to save bullets for the end, if you can get up early everyone ends up chasing you and that is not the way to win a contest. When David Krosunger posted his first day results I definitely changed my betting strategy and, rather than going with more "sure things" at 7-1 to 12-1, I looked for those hopeless horses at 20-1 or more. Had I been able to hit one more race early on and be in the $100 buck range midway through the first day, I feel very confident I could have not only hung on, but I could have been much closer to the top at the end of the contest.

2) While I think you need to hit one early, I also think that you need to handicap the card from the end of the day backwards. By mid-day on day 2 I was wiped out; I couldn't handicap my way out of a paper bag. My bet results on the latter part of day 2 demonstrated that fact. Next time I'm going to place far more importance to early handicapping for later races than I did this time.

I'd be interested what anyone else has to say about these thoughts.

[tomcat]

Deher, My best army buddy is from Charlottsville, we had a great reunion there last year.

Zim, The seminar is a good place for horseplayers to get together, exchange ideas and learn about the software. My experience has been that when you leave, you will have friends that happen to be horseplayers.

[hurrikane]

Mike

Reserved tables for laptop users? What are they putting in the water in Ohio these days?

[dehere]

KM's admonition on the Orlean's results got me off my duff and start to get ready for the seminar and summer contest. So, does anyone know where to go to register for the contest? I suspect its nothing really important to do now to register for the HTR seminar, but if there is some early registration thing I need to know that as well.

[ERNIE LOGSDON]

even if your only thinking about going to the Gold Coast in July---- make room and contest reservations now----you can cancel right up to the last day with no charges to your credit card-----

The reason I think and say this is:
They just announced a $1M contest ------35 of the top people will get in that contest free-----rooms at the Gold Coast will be hard to come by if you wait( in fact all Coast contest this year will have more people trying to get rooms than any year in the past)---there is a new player in the horse racing world and the first place prize is $500K-----
I made my res for the room and contest on Sat. during the Orleans contest.....Had to stand in a line 5 deep just to fill out the form........

the phone is 1-888-566-7223 ....or 1-702-365-7420
on some flyers they put a web address : " for information go to" contest@coastcasinos.net

They also announced that they will be trying to hold contest in other places (states and countries ) so if you get wind of a contest at your track post it here......."have HTR, will travel for a good contest" should be our motto.....<E>

[ERNIE LOGSDON]

---contest@coastcasinos.net is only an email address ( on the flyer is is listed "to get more info contact " )

there is www.coastcasinos.com no real info that I was looking for

www.goldcoastcasino.com then to "whats new" they have info up to the Ky Derby at the Gold Coast.....would think that this site will change often....

Will searsh my old mail for better information and phone numbers and post them here...
think that the number 1-888-566-7223 wil let you talk to someone in/with the contest dept.
have always used it to get answers,contest registration and room reservations and once to cancel out of a contest when I couldn't make the trip.....<E>

[ggpagels]

Just checked online and the "special rate" for rooms was $926.12 for four nights at the
Gold Coast. Unless my calculator is broken, that's a little more than $35 a night.
:D

[Donnie]

How many rooms you buying?? Is it illegal to scalp rooms?

[ggpagels]

I just went to their web site and started a reservation for July 14-18 and it gave me that quote. I guess that is the "rack" rate without special discounts.

[km]

I have the flyer and the info for the Gold Coast and will print all the details that we got in Vegas for our seminar, the Gold Coast contest and the World Series of Handicapping in the April newsletter.

No need to panic or rush to get into the Gold Coast contest or hotel this July. There is no limit to contestants and there is no Early Bird special. They have blocked 300 rooms for players and it is highly unlikely they will run out before June 1st. Tommy and I talked to Liz, the racebook manager at the Gold Coast and she saw no need to hurry, but she would agree with Ernie that is better to be early than shut out late. Then again, you can always stay at the Rio or Palms or Orleans which are close by and much nicer hotels, but the rates are around $100/night in summer and they all have mid-week specials.

Gold Coast room rates for contest players are $35/night Sun - Thurs, $59 Fri Sat. If you are coming to the seminar, but not entering the tourney, you can probably get a room on the Internet for decent mid-week rates at the Gold Coast or any of the nearby hotels.

This Orleans tourney last weekend had the 2nd largest turnout in their history and a supposedly full hotel, but I had no problem getting my room a matter of days before the tournament started. There has only been one time that they were overflow on the rooms, but even then they made good on the rates and put people up at the nearby Hampton and Budget Suites.

[Donnie]

How 'bout a show of hands to see who is "planning" on attending the seminar...as well as what would you like Mike and I to cover in the Access section?
Sue and I will be there!

[HBee]

I plan to be there.

I'd like to learn how to combine several spot play querrys into one report.

Herman

[tomcat]

I'm seeing again and you can count me in!

[ggpagels]

I will be there. Access topics I'm interested in are:

Queries on queries
Queries on multiple tables
Making calculations in reports.

[AlanLN]

I'm going to try to make both the seminar and contest. Probably won't find out if I get the time off from work until 2-3 weeks before hand.

Hopefully by then I will know alittle more about Access and how to use it.

[km]

Apparently the Gold Coast is going to be tough to get a room during the tournament if you are not participating as they have blocked most of the rooms for contest players that week.

There are many alternatives within 5-10 minutes drive or cab ride.

Internet deals are great:

Click this Travelocity Link (http://www.travelocity.com)

There are loads of rooms under $60 during the week of our seminar. Use the HOTEL search tool to enter the dates and the city. Then sort by price. Even the Orleans is offering $39 Sun -Thurs that week and they are much nicer rooms.

[triplettg]

I plan to attend. In response to Donnie’s request for suggested Access related agenda items, I would be interested in a discussion of HX5.

[Neil]

We plan to attend Vegas conference.
Access topics of interest: writing VBA routines for sorts and ranks; parsing text.
Look forward to seeing everyone again!

Neil

[EE26]

travelworm.com has rates of 36$ a nite for 7/14-7/15 and $76 a nite for Friday nite and Saturday nite at the Gold Coast also AANHotels.com has the Gold Coast for $39 a nite 714-7/15 and $69 a nite Friday nite and Saturday nite.

[hurrikane]

I plan to attend.

I would like queries that can pull out all the horses that will win today paying >$15.00.

Maybe this could be a private meeting.

[MikeH]

Here are several suggestions for "cheap" room rates in Sin City...

The Plaza was just sold, but, for a long time, they have run an ad in the Los Angeles Times Sunday Travel or Calendar section with $25 - $30 mid-week rates. Sometimes they ask for the ad (I haven't been there in several years), so, if you don't live in the L.A. area, you might ask one of us that does to get one for you.

Below is a link to a forum on Las Vegas. Look through it for a link titled:
"[Vegas] L.A. Times Deals -- 4/XX/04, philfeld.
Phil Feldman runs this post almost every week.
It lists various ads that the Las Vegas hotels are running in Southern California and Arizona.
http://www.escribe.com/travel/vegas/

The link to the most current post is: (remember that April 11 was Easter... normally slim pickin's. Check the link in several days for an update.)

http://www.escribe.com/travel/vegas/m40089.html

Lastly, I've stayed at the "Budget Suites" that is located on the Industrial Road side of the Stardust. It's small, but has a small kitchen, refrigerator, etc. as well as a small table (well-lit!!!) that is easy to handicap on. There are several locations in Las Vegas; about $200 per week. (I usually get the weekly rate and stay about 5 days.) (The property behind the Stardust does have the dubious distinction of being the location where the Ohio sniper was caught several weeks ago...)
http://www.budgetsuites.com/rates.html

[Huguenot]

Is anyone taking their families out the Vegas???

[ggpagels]

Does it still look like a 1:00 PM start time on July 14 for the seminar? I need to make plane reservations early to get a flight from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas due to the limited number of flights.

[km]

Plan to arrive by noon gg, check April newsletter for probable schedule.

hug - if you are involved in the tournament, leave family at home, as it will take all your time.
If you are coming only for the seminar, and are staying the whole weekend, they'll have a great time in Vegas with you.

[HBee]

Is anyone planning to get to Vegas Tuesday or are most of you coming in Wednesday AM?

Herman

[Donnie]

Herman--
The wife and I will be in town Sunday nite. Let me know if you wanna hook up early.

[HBee]

Originally posted by Donnie
Herman--
The wife and I will be in town Sunday nite. Let me know if you wanna hook up early.

That sounds great. I am getting in early Tuesday. We'll set it up.

[Donnie]

that goes for anyone else as well

[dehere]

I'm arriving around 8 pm on Tuesday night - if there's anything up for that evening I'd love to know about it.

I'll be staying near the strip - at the Westin across from Bally's race book. I'll have a car though so can meet anywhere (or pick folks up if that is needed).

[tomcat]

JohnB and I will be there on Tues also.

[tomcat]

Donnie, will you be updating the newsletter CD? Should we bring blank CD's or anything?

[ggpagels]

I have a friend that is going to attend the seminar as a guest with me. Is the fee schedule set up for the sessions? Are we paying at the the door this year or sending fees to Rick? Can a guest play in the HTR handicapping contest in the seminar session? Inquiring minds need to know.:D

[Maxspa]

All,
Are most of you bringing a printer to the seminar or is the Gold Coast hotel able to print the race data for a reasonable fee?
Maxspa

[Donnie]

Maxspa--- I believe the Coast has a print center so you can get copies right on site. There is probably a Kinkos nearby as well. Some people do bring their own printers and nearly everyone is happy to share. You shouldn't have any problems getting printouts.

[Maxspa]

Donnie,
Thank you for the clarification!
Maxspa

[Maxspa]

Donnie, Mike D, and Tomcat,
At the individual workshops, will there be informational, handout materials or will notetaking be the general procedure for collecting new ideas. I'm not concerned just want to be prepared.
Maxspa

[MikeDee]

We plan to have handouts, for some things, but for the access portion we are encouraging everyone to bring a laptop if they have one or can have the use of one for the seminar. We will be making extensive use of one of those overhead projectors connected to our laptops so you can follow along with what we are doing.

During the access session will be encouraging everyone to pair and triple up so we can work through examples together.

[Donnie]

I was thinking last night that I am going to attempt to try to write out step by step instructions on everything I am planning on covering. That way you have a "checklist" approach to follow when you get back home. Now, whether I actually get that done may be another matter! After all, it is just 3 short weeks away....no wonder I can't sleep at night!!:D

[Maxspa]

Donnie and Mike,
Thank you both for your responses. Looking forward to attending this seminar
Maxspa

[AwolAtHTR]

Wed 7 Jul 04

re: show hands

hi Donnie,

add AWOL to the seminar count.

looking forward to learning about the REAL world of HTR.

AWOL

[Donnie]

cool AWOL...looking forward to meeting you!

[Victor]

Could there be a future HTR seminar held in Atlantic City?

We have the Borgata. Nice place

[km]

A very good suggestion Vic - our old benefactor from the Stardust, Joe Lupo is one of the head honchos there now, unfortunately he is not in Race & Sports anymore. But it can't hurt to ask.

What's the place like? I hear it's lavish. Do they have a racebook?

[Victor]

It cost more than a Billion dollars so that should tell you something.

They have a racebook but Bally's Park Place has a better one.

The Borgata rules AC and would fit among the best out west.

Salt Water Taffy and Cool Ocean Breezes. The World's Playground.

Plus !!! Smarty lives here. And believe it or not, his home, Philadelphia Park will soon be offering purses as large as ANYONE (SAR, DMR, etc.) because of slot machines. There is talk of $500,000 per day.

Philadelphia Park (don't laugh), the Borgata and HTR, it's a natural.