Ellis Park drops Pick4 takeout to 4%

Posted on Monday, July 9th, 2007

This 2007 Summer horse racing season bodes well for aficionados at Ellis Park racetrack - they recently dropped the track takeout on the Pick 4 (Pick Four or Pick4) horse wagers to only four percent (4%). The normal withholding on this wager at the majority of American racetracks is 25 percent. Some quotes from John Pricci’s observation that Ellis Park is leading a revolution by serving the needs of it’s horse betting customers.

For the first time ever, horseplayers now have a positive expectation on their investment. The bet is the universally popular Pick Four. The spin is a four percent takeout. To repeat, a four percent takeout!

The Pick Four pool at Ellis opening day was $19,975, nearly 10 percent higher than last year???s average without benefit of pre-publicity and against major top-tier competition. Maybe there is, after all, something to the economic notion that a free market will determine the point at which supply meets demand to maximize profits.

Here???s another way of looking at the wager. Unlike betting to win, the parimutuel takeout, about 17 percent in many major jurisdictions, is extracted each time a win bet is placed. In inter-race wagers like the daily double or Pick Four, takeout is extracted once.

This makes the effective takeout rate on the Ellis Park Pick Four one percent per race. Now, if your handicapping is skilled enough to safely eliminate one 30-1 shot per race (on balance, a 30-1 has about a three percent chance to win), you have an expected positive return of two percent per race or eight percent for entire sequence. Think of it as free money. full story

You can bet on Ellis Park races online. Also, free Ellis park tips and picks.

tags: Ellis park

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Panty Raid Takes $750,000 American Oaks

Posted on Monday, July 9th, 2007

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) – Panty Raid gave trainer Todd Pletcher a second consecutive victory in the $750,000 American Oaks on Saturday, defeating an international field in her first turf race at Hollywood Park.

Pletcher’s filly, Wait a While, won last year. She was knocked out of Friday night’s $1 million CashCall Mile because of a temperature.

Ridden by Edgar Prado, Panty Raid beat Ireland-bred Valbenny by three-quarters of a length. The winner covered 1 miles in 2:01.53 and paid $13, $5.40 and $3.20.

Pletcher didn’t travel from his East Coast base for the race, so assistant Ginny DePasquale saddled his horses.

Prado had Panty Raid fourth in the early going before they moved up to third with a mile remaining. They went three-wide nearing the top of the stretch before taking the lead.

“It was a beautiful trip,” Prado said. “We were in the perfect position, and when I asked, she really responded. She proved today that she could go either way, turf or dirt.”

Baroness Thatcher, who finished third to Panty Raid in the Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico in May, set the early pace.

Pletcher’s other entry, Audacious Chloe, chased Baroness Thatcher before fading to last.

Panty Raid won her third in a row and earned $450,000, increasing her career winnings to $692,275, with four wins in six starts.

Valbenny returned $3.40 and $2.60 as the 5-2 wagering favorite. Anamato paid $3.60 to show.
Tags: American Oaks, Todd Pletcher, Panty Raid

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New York Horse Racing Franchise. Betting Rebate Shops a Concern

Posted on Thursday, July 5th, 2007

By Tom LaMarra and Tom Precious

A report by the New York Office of Inspector General to Gov. Eliot Spitzer lists four ???general areas of concern??? among the four entities seeking the franchise to operate Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga, including relationships with rebate shops and bookmakers who take bets on horse racing from the United States.

The Office of Inspector General was ordered by Spitzer to conduct a due diligence review of the ethics and integrity of the groups seeking the franchise: Capital Play, Empire Racing Associates, Excelsior Racing Associates, and the New York Racing Association, which currently holds the franchise. The report was released July 2.

The four general areas of concern are all four entities have some ties to rebate shops; several individuals didn???t return fingerprint packages; the report found ???numerous civil lawsuits involving key persons or business entities??? involved with all four bidders; and some individuals associated with the bidding groups have made legal but ???sizable contributions??? to New York political leaders.

Spitzer didn???t use the report to make any indications about who he believes should get the Thoroughbred racing franchise. Government sources recently said the Spitzer administration was warm to a plan that would let NYRA continue running racing while giving Excelsior Racing Associates the gambling side of the franchise, which could include video lottery terminal casinos at Aqueduct and Belmont.

The administration may recommend awarding one entity the right to operate racing and a different entity the right to manage non-racing development and gaming operations, or may recommend that a single entity be awarded the racing franchise and also be given responsibility for developing gaming and other non-racing operations, Spitzer said in a written statement. full story

See the complete report on New York horse racing franchise.

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Hollywood Park Pick 6 $3.3M carryover

Posted on Monday, July 2nd, 2007

Don’t bet on horse racing at Hollywood Park? Will a $3.3M Pick 6 carryover make you place a $1 horse wager on Monday? Apparently this is the highest carryover in Hollywood Park racetrack history. The Pick 6 horse bet is easy (ugh) the bettor only has to choose the winning horse in 6 consecutive horse races. See, it’s easy! The bettor can also make combinations of horses per race, he can bet on more than one horse per race - but of course - that also makes his Pick 6 horse betting ticket a lot more expensive!

Horse racing bettors failed to solve the tricky wager for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday, a program that begin with a pick six carryover of more than $1.4 million. Bettors added $3.4 million on Sunday, but no one had all six winners, even though there were two winning favorites. (DRF)

Can that Pick6 horse racing jackpot be “bought”? Especially with the short fields at Hollywood Park!

The $3.3million Hollywood Park Pick 6 is on Races 3 to 8.

Cmon guys, good luck! Hitting this Pick 6 is like hitting the lottery - but I suppose 10X easier or should I say, 10X better odds? click here for Hollywood Park picks and tips to win this Pick 6

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