In case you missed it...

[Glen]

We had a pretty successful debut in an annual internet BBS handicapping challenge. For the most part, each team consisted of 8 players who were assigned a track for four consecutive Saturdays. HTR group did real well finishing first with a 2.11 ROI(2.00 breakeven) defeating the DRF, PA, and Hottalkers BBS. A special thanks to Carl, Hurrikane, Donnie, Canuck, Bernie, MikeDee, MtKen and Tbrown for participating in making this a fun and exciting event.

Official score can be found at www.paceadvantage.com

[MikeDee]

Glen Did you do any good in the contest?

[Glen]

No, I got skunked. TommyC was in the top 4 at halftime and then that was about it. FG is next.

[Ken Massa]

Congratulations HTR team! Nice going guys, thanks for the news Glen. I'll get gather all the details and put it in the next newsletter.

I would be willing to sponser a little contest here. You all could make a $50 'donation' to our webmaster Rick as a contest fee. He would be the referee. We would send a 'gift' check back to the winner of all the collected entry fees + I would add some other fun prizes. Any ideas on format that would find the most solid handicapper (constitency and mutuels) over a reasonable period of time? Daily contest selections could be posted here. If 20 or more entered, the top prize could be as high as $1000.

Let us know if this is viable or of any interest.

[MikeDee]

I'ld be interested, but if we are going to play for real money I'ld like to see the format more along the lines of the Orleans or other major tourneys where the player can pick the race they want to wager on and not have to play one specific track or race.

[Glen]

Yeah, I agree w/ MD. Orleans/open style w/ tote watching.

[Dr.Larry]

Agree with MD and Glen.
For those of us who work most days, perhaps
a contest run on four consecutive Sundays where
each Player selects 4 or 5 bets for the day.

[Donnie]

I have to go with Doc. Dayside tournaments would be a drag. Weekend and I'm in!!

[hurrikane]

I'm in for that. How about a entry into the DRF for the winner? Or is that over the top, don't know what it takes to be a sponsor.

[ronnie h]

i could go for weekend as i am one of those w/*-k stiff

[hdcper]

Although I am not a member of HTR, I would like to suggest a format like the Cal Neva contest(which no longer exists). For those not familiar with it, it was a four day contest(which could be replaced with four Saturday or Sundays in a row). On the beginning day, everyone starts with the same bankroll of $500(in this case it could be $50). They must wager 10% of the bankroll on 10 different horses of their choice(generally six tracks were provided as contest playing tracks to keep it simple and manageable) to win, place or show only. In otherwords, each player must select 10 horses and may allocate the $5(10% or the $50 original bankroll) in anyway to win place or show. In addition, more than one horse maybe played in the same race but each horse must be allocated 10% of the bankroll(no more or less). Thus, if you play two horses in one race, two of your 10 plays for the day must be used.

After the first day your ending bankroll in rounded to the closest 10 dollars(so if your ending bankroll after day 1 was say $65 it would be rounded up to $70). This new bankroll would be used on day 2(so in this case the next 10 plays for day 2 would be $7 wagers on each of the 10 horses you wager on) and every players bankroll would be calculated in the same way based on their ending day balance. In otherwords, every new day requires every player to roll their entire bankroll and if they should go 0 for 10 are eliminated from the contest. This helps eliminate anyone from having one or two large hits and making it impossible for the other players to win the contest, but rewards success with larger daily wagers. Note: Any player with a ending daily balance of $4 or less would also be eliminated due to rounding.

Just a thought,

Hdcper

[MikeDee]

hdcper- Thanks for your suggestions for a format. Here are my thoughts:

My suggestion would be that we use the Orleans/Suncoast format. 5 or 6 tracks, 12 individual $100 win bets each day on any race of your choice at the contest tracks. You could cap the odds like they do at the Orleans. Full track odds on the first $20 and a cap of 20-1 on the remaining $80. Scratches must be re-bet or an alt named. like we are doing now. Multiple horses can be selected in each race but each selection counts as one of your 12 wagers for the day. Unused wagers do not carry over to the next contest day. Use'em or lose'em.

my comments on Cal-Neva
If we go with the Cal Neva format, you wouldn't have to limit the bank roll to $50 you could use the $500 or $1000 or whatever amount as a starting bankroll. I would prefer a min no of wagers and a min wager amount for each contest day, but not set so high as to force o'fers to tap out. I would not have a max limit on your wager, or a limit on the number of runners you wager on in a race. If you want to put it all on a longshot, or a odds on fav, or on multiple runners, go ahead, but once you have used up you bank roll you're out. We will probably be a small group and I think it would be better to give everyone the opportunity to stay around till the end or to pick the time and place of their demise.

[Dr.Larry]

Mike Dee's suggestion that we use the Orleans/Suncoast
format makes sense, and would be fine with me.

Ken, in his post, however, wrote that he is looking for a
"format that would find the most solid handicapper
(consistency and mutuals) over a reasonable period of time."

We have members with diverse winning styles of play. For some
12 plays may just barely be enough. I do it the hard way, and often
have trouble finding more than 2 or 3 plays a day. I think the Contest
is a great idea, will be a lot of fun, and would enjoy playing by the
Orleans/suncoast rules. It would, however, not be related to
my ability as a handicapper.

A great part of the enjoyment in these Contests is the competative
spirit which is part of our ego. Above
was an honest comment by my ego.

[Dr.Larry]

Incidentally, I can only play on Sundays

[MtKen]

Sounds good to me. I don't think a scorekeeper needs to deal with varying bet sizes, though.
I think a simple hi $ won contest ,with a cap like MikeD suggested in place, would be much easier to deal with. Depends how much Rick wants to take on.

Play Sat &/or Sun for a month & stick to the larger tracks if possible.

[Dr.Larry]

Rethought my previous post. I was wrong.

Playing in a Contest requires a winning CONTEST
Strategy which is a different talent from having
a personal winning period at the Track.
Thus, if it is a 12 bet day, you have to devise a
12 bet strategy. I realize that the above is obvious
to most of you.

Best 0f Luck! ...Larry

[MikeDee]

I agree with you there Doc. Any contest, no matter how you structure it, requires you to have a stragety. In any event over a short period of time anything can happen.

[Glen]

Maybe since it might be best for some to play on Sat instead of Sun and vice versa how about we say each player gets 12 or 20 or so bullets to fire either on Sat or Sun (or both)of a specified weekend. Mabye spread it out over a couple weekends if we wish so we can get 50 or so swings...

[Carl]

So how about a total of 50 bets over a month?

If you guys want to keep it weekend only, I don't care. But if I had my druthers, would be whenever you see a horsey you love and want to bet.

Also think we should have a 5 minute or 10 minute to post thing/rule to avoid the possibility of past posting accusations.