Comments for Hello Race Fans!

Comment on Picking Six Has Never Been So Cheap by Dana Byerly

Dana Byerly — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:07:39 +0000

Thanks for stopping by Red! The way to figure the price of an exotic wager is to multiply the number of horses in each leg times the wager amount. Here are a few examples:

2 horses in each leg of the Pick 6
(2x2x2x2x2x2) = 64 x 2 (cost of wager) = $128 wager

2 horses in three legs, 3 horses in three legs and 1 horse in one leg
(2x2x2x3x3x1) = 72 x 2 (cost of wager) = $144 wager

4 horses in four legs and 1 horse in one leg:
(4x4x4x4x1x1) = 256 x 2 (cost of wager) = $512 wager

It’s much easier to get good coverage when you’re playing a Pick 3 or Pick 4 not only because there are fewer legs but because the minimum wager is usually lower. Here’s an few examples:

$.50 Pick 4:
1 horse in one leg, 2 horses in one leg, 3 horses in one leg and 6 horses in one leg:

(1x2x3x6) = 36 x .5 (cost of wager) = $18 wager

Here’s a handy bet calculator (there are also no shortage as iPhone apps, not sure about android):

http://www.breederscup.com/content.aspx?id=34113

Another approached used by more advanced, regular Pick 6 players is where you would rank your selections in each race as A, B, C and then construct multiple tickets. If you’re a newbie to multi-race exotics I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this approach right off the bat but the that takes much of the busy work out of actually constructing your tickets. You can also download it to your iphone (not sure if they have a mobile or android version).

Anyone seriously interested in diving into mutli-race exotic wagering should also check out Steven Crist’s book Exotic Betting, we have a review of it right here.

I hope this helps!

Comment on Picking Six Has Never Been So Cheap by red

red — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:45:37 +0000

I saw the episode and after reading your post above, I’m still confused. You wrote: “For example, if you wanted to select only two horses in each of the six races, your minimum bet would be $128.” But if each bet is only $2, why isn’t the minimum bet $24? (two horses in each of the six races: bet on 2 horses in race #1 = $4 ($2 on horse #1, $2 on horse #2), 2 horses in race #2 = $4, and so forth… so $4 x 6 races = $24.

I’m wondering, given that the payout ranged from $48k to $2 million, why not just bet on every horse in every race? If there are 12 horses per race, and 8 races, and each bet is $2, then 12*2*8 = $192.

Obviously, I’m missing something – could you explain for us newbies? Thanks!

Comment on A Trip to the Paddock by Dana Byerly

Dana Byerly — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:38:05 +0000

Right on Alex! You’ve got a Derby Prep coming up at Golden Gate on Feb 18, not that one needs a Derby prep to enjoy a day at the track!

Comment on A Trip to the Paddock by Alex Simkin

Alex Simkin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:09:38 +0000

Love the enthusiasm for the past time that comes through here. Immediately got me juiced to head back out to the track. Great stuff!

Comment on 2011 Eclipse Award Finalists by Dana Byerly

Dana Byerly — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:23:59 +0000

Hey Joan! I was hoping Caleb’s Posse would win 3-year-old male, if that makes you feel any better…

Comment on 2011 Eclipse Award Finalists by Joanc57

Joanc57 — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:54:22 +0000

I’m such a horse sexist. I’m mad they didn’t give Drosselmeyer anything.

Comment on What Draws Us to the Track by Julie

Julie — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:29:15 +0000

I couldn’t have said it better, Claire! For me it was John Henry in the 1982 Big ‘Cap instead of Charismatic, but the lessons learned were the same. Racing is a sport that gets under your skin and permeates your life.

Comment on Reading List: History by Melaina Phipps

Melaina Phipps — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:03:32 +0000

Thanks for your suggestions Amy! I’m glad you’re enjoying our lists!

Comment on Reading List: History by Dana Byerly

Dana Byerly — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:55:58 +0000

Hi Annie, thanks for the great ideas! We have Black Maestro on the Memoir list:

http://helloracefans.com/reading-list/biography-and-memoir/

and are planning on doing a Track list, which will include Saratoga, They’re Off! but we’re planning on occasionally updating all of our reading lists, so we’ll add The Great Black Jockeys to the list!

All of our current reading lists can be found here:
http://helloracefans.com/reading-list/

and we also are planning on publishing a Breeding and Fiction list in addition to Tracks in 2012.

History buffs should be sure to check out Annie’s site!
http://www.antebellumturftimes.com/

Comment on Reading List: History by Annie Johnson

Annie Johnson — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:28:44 +0000

Great list! How about adding The Great Black Jockeys by Ed Hotaling, and Black Maestro by Joe Drape…as well as Hotaling’s history of Saratoga, They’re Off! (Might be out of print, though)…