No - Utah and Hawaii don’t allow gambling of any sort, AFAIK. I think there are some other states that don’t have horse racing - for example, I don’t think Alabama does.
It seems strange to me that horse racing would be “acceptable” in this way while other sports gambling is not. (Currently, Federal law prohibits non-horse/dog racing sports betting outside of Nevada, and the ban applies to Indian casinos outside of Nevada as well.) It could be because racing is the only sport (a) that is popular with gamblers and (b) isn’t a “team” sport where the opportunities for someone to influence a particular event are greater.
From Googling, it doesn’t look like there’s any connection; apparently the name is because one of the original products offered support like a jockstrap.
Wouldn’t a stronger reason be that horse/dog/jai-alai gambling is pari-mutuel instead of against the house? For every dollar won, another bettor lost (at least) a dollar.
Could be. Another factor (and an argument used in many states to keep racing afloat in places where profits are meager)1 is that the horse industry employs a lot of people, and even states that don’t have racing still have horse breeding programs. (Secretariat was foaled in Virginia; back then Virginia had no race tracks.)
All betting, of any type, sees the winners paid from the proceeds of the loser’s bets. I don’t think racing is special in that way. I’m no poker expert, but I believe that poker games are also similar in that the house takes a cut, but the players are betting each other, not the house.
Well, sort of. I’m assuming that you’re using betting deliberately as opposed to gambling - since what you said is certainly not true of casino table games, the house can win or lose big on any given sequence.
So, back to betting…sports books operate differently than pari-mutual. While the goal of the house is to pay the winner with the loser’s money, they don’t always balance the bets (hence moving lines, etc), but if you win, you get paid even if nobody took the other side of the bet. Thus, the house can be on the hook for losses (or the beneficiary of gains if nobody took the upset win).
Because of this, do breeders try to time it so that their foals are dropped in January or February? What if a thoroughbred is dropped on 31 December, does he turn 1 the very next day? If not, then is there a cutoff date?
i’m still working my way through the thread, so this info might already be below…
I went to the track once, my one and only time (to date). I went with a friend who knew how to read the form and while we watched the races that day, he explained the form while there for several hours. It was great. If you can find a friend to do this, I’d highly recommend it.
RocketSurgery gave an account of this - from memory, impressive! - but also Wikipedia has a nice table showing the three races and each year’s winner. Multiple winners are shaded in the table.
I’m still working through this thread, and thanks for this, RocketSurgery!, but, why silk? Why do jockeys wear silks? Is it cooler when they ride in the heat, and warmer when they ride in cool weather? Is it because they might not chafe? Is it simply because of tradition? Are they called silks but they’re now really made of different material besides silk, because they used to be? Why?
I’m guessing the bright colors and patterns are to help the spectators (okay, really the owners and trainers) to easily spot their horses from hipundreds of yards away.
My favorite is also Secretariat, to me and my rookie mind he was the greatest. What do you think was the greatest racehorse, ever? (What is appropriate, do you say “who was”, or “what was”?)
Also, Ruffian holds a warm spot in my heart. Did you watch her match race against Foolish Pleasure? (my gosh, were you there??) I watched that live on TV. So sad. I think she would have won. IIRC, she was starting to pull ahead when she broke down.
When I go to the track, I usually bet a horse I like in each race across the board. If there is a huge favorite in a particular race, I’ll bet only on him to show, figuring that the payout for the show bet is almost the same as a win, but I still get paid if the huge favorite comes in second or third.
What do you think of this strategy, I’m mainly going to have a good time and to drink a beer or two. But I don’t mind coming home with a few extra $$$ in my pocket either!
Keep in mind that horse racing in other countries is often done at longer distances and the horses are often older - in the 5-8 year range. In America, we race the horses mostly at 2-3 years, because of the Triple Crown’s influence. We’re racing teenagers, essentially. They’re slightly faster but they’re not really at their mature weight & strength.
Also, there are races over grass and over jumps as well as the straight races Americans are more used to. It’s more exciting and sometimes more deadly. Like with dirt surfaces, some horses just prefer racing on grass and some hate it. They’re fragile, moody, beasts.
As for why the Belmont is so long - Tradition!
Honestly, I don’t think anyone should bet on horses (except for fun, of course) if they don’t have first hand knowledge. And even then, be prepared to lose because of the aforesaid moody & fragile thing. But if I was determined to try, I’d look for horses with good numbers in the form but odds just behind the favorite.
Go Chrome! I was really impressed with his Preakness win. I think he might have a genuine chance.
I’d picked Commissioner. I take some comfort in the fact that he finished ahead of the favorite. Small comfort. At least it was a respectable pick. I included California Chrome 'cause well, a whole lot of people who know a lot more about horse racing than I do also did. My third pick was #8 - Matu Szak. I’m not sure yet if he finished last or second to last, so my system is clearly not foolproof.
I didn’t think to look for a thread until after the race. I watched by myself and was feeling sad about that. Maybe next year those of us who make picks can post them before post time.
I’m a little sad that the story isn’t “Tonalist Wins!” but rather “California Chrome Loses!”
