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General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: At the Eighth Pole on April 21, 2018, 08:30:43 AM

Title: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: At the Eighth Pole on April 21, 2018, 08:30:43 AM
From high school to graduate school I bet harness. In between got a trainer's and driver's license always knowing I'd never make a living betting, training or driving horses. Over time tracks have closed, gone from hot bed excitement to empty silos. Handicapping, despite technology, has gone from horses to people (trainers & drivers and the vets we don't know). More and more races finish with outcomes inconsistent with the racing program, the only bible for bettors: vs. no insights from the vet, the trainer, or morning conditioning. The 50, 25, 12, 8 and 5 payout model is as old as I am, and is no longer sustainable with low purses and the escalating cost of doing business. More and more races result in finishes that defy the race program.  For the $20 bucks a night bettor the risk is okay coupled with beers and buddies. But the high risk gambler on the outside, it is a path to empty pockets. On the Meadowlands friday card, a driver who has driven a horse of mine, from meager midwest beginnings, lured to the bright city lights and winters in Florida, opted off a winner, and "appeared" to race for second. No one really knows but him and many of those who cashed a $14 exacta. Finally, in race 9, one horse qualified with a last quarter in 26, faster than one of the favorites with a race under her belt, but with an outside post and a middle level driver. The import 26 flat finisher, with remarkable miles down under, presented with a morning line of 10, no "expert" handicapper gave a mention, and only at the starter's 8th pole did the announcer note the action. (Likewise in recent amateur trots, few noted Mark Silva was previously an active driver in Cali for years, although thinner then, he was quite good. On memory and training his abilities towered over his amateur competition. His wins were highly predictable, but unknown to the unknowing public.) The import mare floated to 7:1 following early action before settling at 5:1. The outcome was no surprise cruising confidently to victory. Something about the morning line (10:1), no touting, and the obvious fitness against the competition compelled me say that's it. I'm done. Cash in the $500 winning ticket and leave with less loses. Join those before me. Leave willingly.
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: Rabbi Of Racing on April 21, 2018, 08:43:34 AM
Good luck in your future endeavors
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: LUCPARK on April 21, 2018, 08:44:09 AM
YOU''LL BE BACK

THEY ALL CUM BACK
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: Trottin Man on April 21, 2018, 09:26:49 AM
Harness racing has always been fixed! maybe not every race, but in general the drivers control what comes in. The BIG difference today is social media. Once social media starts talking bad about a diver, trainer, owner or race track, it's etched in everyone's mind. In the old days, going to the track was fun. At most Harness tracks, it's not fun anymore.
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: Powerful Patricks Ghost on April 21, 2018, 10:10:13 AM
YOU''LL BE BACK

THEY ALL CUM BACK

Robust handles back up this claim  ngc3
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: Trottin Man on April 21, 2018, 10:25:25 AM
Robust handles = computer betting!
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: helpplease on April 21, 2018, 10:30:18 AM
Harness racing has always been fixed! maybe not every race, but in general the drivers control what comes in. The BIG difference today is social media. Once social media starts talking bad about a diver, trainer, owner or race track, it's etched in everyone's mind. In the old days, going to the track was fun. At most Harness tracks, it's not fun anymore.

If this was actually true, it is amazing how there are so many drivers that don't have a pot to piss in & a window to throw it out? Surly knowing the outcome of the races would make drivers rich?
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: cornishcommish on April 21, 2018, 10:40:48 AM
A very thoughtful post by At the 1/8 th pole

Some good observations

And you are right...Silva was a professional driver........som e years ago

By most groups definition of an amateur........."not having taken any money for driving a 3rd party horse in 10 years"...I wonder..does he meet these conditions  ??????

What most amateur clubs do is.......if a member HAS taken money in the last 10 years.......it must be paid back  to the amateur club or the Hall of Fame of the Trotter..or to a recognized charity..with a receipt provided for the payback.

Can any plopster provide any input on Mark Silvas possible last drive as a professional ??
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: Powerful Patricks Ghost on April 21, 2018, 11:09:42 AM
Robust handles = computer betting!

I was being sarcastic...
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: bigwrench on April 21, 2018, 11:36:00 AM
Harness racing has always been fixed! maybe not every race, but in general the drivers control what comes in. The BIG difference today is social media. Once social media starts talking bad about a diver, trainer, owner or race track, it's etched in everyone's mind. In the old days, going to the track was fun. At most Harness tracks, it's not fun anymore.
dedicate all your gambling  to the nearest casino! It's the most honest game in town!!
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: PIGLAND on April 21, 2018, 02:59:10 PM
cheating horsemen have ruined our sport,so many horse players have quit,and the judges are the lazyest mother fuckers in the world ,70% of the trainers are bearfs for cheaters
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: Rabbi Of Racing on April 21, 2018, 03:22:36 PM
bearfs
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: Rabbi Of Racing on April 21, 2018, 03:22:46 PM
 tmbz1
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: PIGLAND on April 21, 2018, 04:30:56 PM
bearfs
my bag
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: Uncle Harry on April 21, 2018, 04:39:13 PM
 DONT LET THE DOOR HIT YA WHERE THE LORD SPLIT YA.
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: Brown jug on April 21, 2018, 05:20:29 PM
certainly some truth in the comments although not new
here is a thought
avoid betting all overnight races
selectively bet stakes races
many of the sires stakes you must qualify for a very rich final by getting points during the preliminary legs
and of course finals are even better
i know that does not help those that must bet every night and especially during the winter
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: Trottin Man on April 21, 2018, 09:24:22 PM
I owned a few nice trotters in the 80's. After a few 4-5-6 finishes in a row, I'd go see my trainer and say, "i'd like to cash a ticket on one of my horses. The next week he tells me my horse is leaving hard and will win. Sure enough my horse goes wire to wire at 10-1. I'm not a big better, but I made a nice score in front of my friends. This really opened my eyes on Harness Racing. After all these years, the only thing that has changed is they juice them up before they tell the driver to leave hard.
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: Rabbi Of Racing on April 21, 2018, 10:29:36 PM
Silva was good back in the day! Never will forget those white patton leather boots he always drove in while in Detroit!
Yep,the white boots! I remember  tmbz1
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: Joe Dirt on April 21, 2018, 10:33:37 PM
Silva was good back in the day! Never will forget those white patton leather boots he always drove in while in Detroit!

ANOTHER IDIOT THAT MUST HAVE BEEN AT THE TRACK ON DAYS WHEN SPELLING CLASS WAS HELD

pat·ent leath·er

noun

noun: patent leather

leather with a glossy varnished surface, used chiefly for shoes, belts, and purses
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: eyeinthesky on April 22, 2018, 07:07:38 AM
Thanks JoeD

When he wrote "patton" leather.......... I thought maybe they were an old pair of white boots  originally worn by General Patton
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: bigwrench on April 22, 2018, 08:28:54 AM
 73cv.2
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: Bernie Madoff on April 22, 2018, 07:28:52 PM
Ray Gillilan.
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: The Exporter on April 22, 2018, 09:48:31 PM
Joe marsh jr wore white patent leather boots, along with the golden boy Gene valandingham and Ray j gilligan all in chicago at OLD SPORTSMAN PARK in chicago {cicero il]......



George Gilmour did the same.









Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: pugdog1 on April 22, 2018, 11:12:57 PM
Dwight Banks a white boot guy to
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: Redb2011 on April 23, 2018, 09:39:52 AM
Leo LaCost also. Good luck to all---

Paul Gatley drove in sneakers.
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: kantseeback on April 23, 2018, 09:50:28 AM
I have to agree with the original post. I remember RR, YR, M1, Monti, packed with fans. One time in the 70's my uncle and I snuck into the reserved section of the old YR grandstand to promptly get booted by the usher, yes in those days there was an outdoor section of the old grandstand marked reserved and packed.

I rarely bet now.

Maybe a few races were  fixed back then but they left enough meat on the bone for the public to make a few bucks.

Nowadays its empty tracks with greasy slimy trainers with mega drugs. Might as well enter the track, buy a program, and promptly proceed to the closest bathroom and use the program for toilet paper.
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: kantseeback on April 23, 2018, 09:54:46 AM
Joe marsh jr wore white patent leather boots, along with the golden boy Gene valandingham and Ray j gilligan all in chicago at OLD SPORTSMAN PARK in chicago {cicero il]......

Tony Dandeo wore white cowboy boots












Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: Sam R on April 23, 2018, 10:14:46 AM
Paul Appel and Ricky Kurtz white boots. Bill Pocza too.
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: bigwrench on April 23, 2018, 11:35:42 AM
Stick to the casinos!
They are always honest
And everybody is a winner
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: kantseeback on April 23, 2018, 12:21:54 PM
Stick to the casinos!
They are always honest
And everybody is a winner


(http://www.casinoinswitserland.ch/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/casino-de-niro.jpg)
Title: Re: After 45 years I'm finally done
Post by: Carnival People on April 23, 2018, 12:29:14 PM
A very thoughtful post by At the 1/8 th pole

Some good observations

And you are right...Silva was a professional driver........som e years ago

By most groups definition of an amateur........."not having taken any money for driving a 3rd party horse in 10 years"...I wonder..does he meet these conditions  ??????

What most amateur clubs do is.......if a member HAS taken money in the last 10 years.......it must be paid back  to the amateur club or the Hall of Fame of the Trotter..or to a recognized charity..with a receipt provided for the payback.

Can any plopster provide any input on Mark Silvas possible last drive as a professional ??

MARK SILVA was NEVER a good driver.  He raced in California and won some races before he figured out a few special things and came to meadowlands.   He has had about 10 dead years after initial success. and now comes back with a little bit of force.  AS far as the game is concerned, Mark Silva is a second rate and a weird dude.  Basically semi- moronic outside of a barn. 
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