gambling

O'Rourke Apologizes for Sunday's Pick 5 Fiasco; Says “We Dropped the Ball”

With the field loading into the gate for Sunday's sixth race at Saratoga, the start of a Pick 5 sequence, it was announced that three subsequent races were being taken off of the turf. For purposes of the Pick 5, the three off-the-turf races were considered "all" races, meaning those races essentially were eliminated from the bet, turning the Pick 5 into a daily double. It paid $25. That didn't sit well with numerous horseplayers, which didn't go unnoticed by NYRA executives. That's why NYRA CEO and President Dave O'Rourke...

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Letter to the Editor: 'Fans Could be Racing's Best Cheerleaders'

Dear TDN Editor: Some may argue that Thoroughbred racing is a contact sport. Twelve-hundred-pound athletes running at 40 mph around an oval and navigating through holes as tight as the eye of a needle might support that reasoning. Our racing stewards are there to guard against the worst from happening and protecting the integrity and safety of the sport of Thoroughbred racing. With the eyes of a hawk, they are doing their job well from their perch atop the clubhouse. All are accredited with experience and must be commended for...

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Spot Plays at the Spa: Saturday, July 15

TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack reveals a pair of selections for the first Saturday of the Saratoga meeting. Race 1, Msw, $136k, 2yo, 5 1/2f, post time: 1:10 p.m. ET There's every chance that National Treasure (Quality Road)'s half-brother and rail-drawn 4-5 morning-line favorite Pirate (Omaha Beach) turns out to be a complete monster, but I'll be taking a shot against him with fellow firster Special Element (Copper Bullet). There's plenty of precocity in Special Element's pedigree. His freshman sire Copper Bullet, winner of the 2017 GII Saratoga Special...

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Belmont Stakes Analysis: It's 'Show' Time

Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) can make some noise at what has to be a terrific price in Saturday's GI Belmont S. He continues to improve with each of his six career starts for trainer Brad Cox, and was a bit unlucky in his last two tries. The handsome gray came up just a nose short with a wide trip after bouncing off rivals down the stretch in the GII Wood Memorial S., then was a respectable fifth after racing too close to a scorching pace in the GI Kentucky...

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BetMakers Launches Fixed Odds Mobile App

MonmouthBets, the first legal and regulated mobile application for fixed odds betting on horse racing in the United States, has launched announced BetMakers Technology Group Friday. Approved by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, the MonmouthBets app is now available for New Jersey residents to accept wagers on mobile devices ahead of Monmouth Park's 78th season beginning Saturday, May 13. In addition to being able to place bets on Monmouth Park races, New Jersey horseplayers can now place fixed odds wagers on races from Tampa Bay Downs, Canterbury Park,...

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Wagering Does An About Face, Increases In March

After wagering dropped by a troubling 6.22% through the first two months of the year, the sport rebounded in March. According to figures released Thursday by Equibase, handle was up 2.14% during the month when compared to 2022. A total of $962,703,949 was wagered in March. In the category of average wagering per race day, there was an increase of 1.10%. Handle is still down by 3.40% for the year. The advances reversed a trend that began in October of last year. Handle fell by 4.93% in October and continued...

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NY's Responsible Play Partnership to Hold Events Recognizing National Problem Gambling Awareness Month

New York State's Responsible Play Partnership (RPP), consisting of the New York State Gaming Commission, New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and the New York Council on Problem Gambling, is holding multiple events to drive attention to the issue as part of the 20th anniversary of National Problem Gambling Awareness Month. On Mar. 10 at 11 a.m., the RPP will hold a press conference at the Javits Center with National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) Executive Director Keith Whyte to highlight the treatment and service options...

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New Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool to Debut Before BC Friday

A new Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool with up to 40 betting interests, including the popular "All Others" option, will debut Tuesday, Nov. 1 and close Thursday, Nov. 3 in advance of the Breeders' Cup World Championships' Future Stars Friday. The new three-day pool, which features $2 Win and Exacta wagering, will open Tuesday, Nov. 1 at noon (all times Eastern) and close Thursday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. Technology advancements now allow up to 40 pari-mutuel betting interests, up from 24 in previous years. Track officials will release the...

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U.S. Wagering Holds Steady in August

Wagering on U.S. races held largely steady in comparison with 2021 figures, with year-to-date wagering reaching $8,604,332,789--up 0.24% from the 2021 figure of $8,583,460,027. During August, U.S. wagering was $1,194,876,167, a dip of 0.86% from last year's figure of $1,205,251,116. Through August, U.S. purses were $843,635,983, an increase of  12.29% from the corresponding 2021 figure of $751,274,418. During August, U.S purses were $130,206,874--up 3.66% from the August 2021 figure of $125,611,453. Comparing year-to-date figures from 2022 to 2020, wagering on U.S. races is up 17.76% and purses are up 62.57%....

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'You Can't Afford To Be Risk Averse In This Game And I'm Not That'

   Andrew Black is renowned in the gambling industry, being co-founder of Betfair, one of the biggest exchanges in the world.     However, there is much more to the 59-year-old than being the man who revolutionised betting; he is also hugely passionate about breeding and playing cards.    Black got to the semi-finals of the world Bridge Championships last week and his breeding endeavors at Chasemore Farm continue to go from strength to strength.     He will bid for Group 1 glory at Haydock on Saturday when homebred Brad The...

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Sanchez Suspended, Gambling an Outlet for Depression

Jockey Mychel Sanchez, who has been suspended 60 days by the Pennsylvania Racing Commission for betting on horses other than the ones he rode, is not a cheat or a race-fixer, his attorney told the TDN Friday. Rather, said lawyer Alan Pincus, Sanchez was dealing with a serious case of depression and took to gambling as an outlet. Pincus said that in all instances Sanchez tried his best to win the races in question, whether he had bet against his own horse or not. "It was clear he was giving...

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Monmouth Posts Record Handle on Haskell Day

Monmouth Park set a track record for handle for a non-Breeders' Cup day when bettors wagered a total of $20,479,392 on Saturday's 14-race GI TVG.com Haskell S. day card. The record handle was achieved despite restrictions for on-track attendance due to COVID-19 guidelines. The overall handle from all sources surpassed the previous non-Breeders' Cup record of $20,024,509 set on Haskell Day on Aug. 2, 2015. It is only the second $20-million handle for a non-Breeders' Cup program in Monmouth Park's 75-year history. Authentic (Into Mischief)'s nose victory over Ny Traffic...

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