Value Tech Blog

Small bodyweight and just a little bit of alcohol…

Zenyatta jockey Mike Smith arrested for DUI – Racing Post
http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/m-e-smith-usa-zenyatta-jockey-mike-smith-arrested-for-dui/888155/international/

ZENYATTA jockey Mike Smith, who rode at Folkestone and Royal Ascot earlier this season, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence on Wednesday night.

Smith was picked up by San Diego police following racing at Del Mar, which was hosting the first meeting of their season.

After posting $2,500 bail Smith told the Daily Racing Form that he had drunk a few glasses of wine after racing but eaten little.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

A gem of a race track!

Atlantic City to Celebrate 65th Birthday
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64126/atlantic-city-to-celebrate-65th-birthday

Atlantic City Race Course, which held its six-day Turf Festival of live racing earlier this year but is open year-round for full-card simulcasts, will pass yet another milestone July 22 when it celebrates its 65th anniversary.

The New Jersey racetrack opened July 22, 1946, and became one of the premier tracks in the country in the 1950s and 1960s as part of a circuit with Garden State Park and Monmouth Park, two other Jersey tracks.

(via Instapaper)

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Las Vegas Casino to Host NHC Qualifier
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64142/las-vegas-casino-to-host-nhc-qualifier

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced July 22 that Treasure Island Las Vegas, is offering an qualifying tournament for the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 19-20.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Despite the headline, overall handle unfortunately declined.

Belmont Attendance, Ontrack Handle Soar
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64113/belmont-attendance-ontrack-handle-soar

Belmont Park, saying it benefited from the shutdown of New York City Off-Track Betting Corp., reported increases in attendance and most pari-mutuel handle categories for its 2011 spring/summer meet.

Total handle on Belmont races during the 55-day meet was $515,083,504, down 5.7% from $546,357,624 for 57 days in 2010. Average daily handle on NYRA races was down 2.3%, from $9,585,221 last year to $9,365,155 this year.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Good to see national coverage…

NBC Sports Saratoga Coverage Begins July 23
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64093/nbc-sports-saratoga-coverage-begins-july-23

The NBC Sports Group’s seven straight weekends of “Summer at Saratoga” coverage begins Saturday, July 23, with live coverage of the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I). The program, from 5-6 p.m. ET on NBC, will include the CCA Oaks for 3-year-old fillies as well as one undercard race.

The “Summer at Saratoga” series will air either on NBC or the VERSUS network.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Del Mar and Saratoga opening. For a ValueCapper, this is heavenly!

Del Mar ready for another big opening
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-delmar-season-20110720-12,0,2164861.story

Opening day at Del Mar has become horse racing’s version of the Academy Awards, producing lots of glitz, glamour and most of all, big crowds. There were 45,309 at last year’s opener, and Wednesday’s first day of Del Mar’s 37-day summer meeting figures to offer another party-like atmosphere that includes spectators wearing lots of colorful hats during a 10-race program.

(via Instapaper)

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

It’s the most wonderful tome of the year…

Saratoga opening-day card attracts 117 entries
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2011/07/19/saratoga-opening-day.aspx

Friday’s kickoff program to the 2011 Saratoga Race Course meeting attracted strong interest at the entry box as 117 horses, including also-eligible and main-track-only runners, were entered for the ten races that include two stakes and four events on the turf.

(via Instapaper)

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Can’t wait to see this…

Students develop jockey camera technology system
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/07/19/students-develop-jockey-camera-technology-system.aspx

David P. Matt and Kenleigh Hobby, two seniors enrolled in the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program, have developed a camera system that will allow television viewers “a first person-perspective of the racing action” by mounting cameras on jockeys’ helmets during races.

The EquiSight-GoPro helmet camera system will be in use during Thursday’s Colonial Downs program, which Matt and Hobby say will “enhance the viewership of the sport to its fans and racing officials.”

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Larger fields, good betting races, would help!

Hollywood Park: Estimated 2.4% drop in handle, attendance down 10% – Paulick Report
http://www.paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/hollywood-park-estimated-2-4-drop-in-handle-attendance-down-10/

Hollywood Park estimates a 2.4 percent drop in all-sources handle for the spring-summer meet that ended Sunday.  Track president Jack Liebau reports that out-of-state handle was down around five to six percent, while Southern California’s simulcasting handle fell less than a percent.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Could be interesting, and it would graphically show just how much randomness is involved in a race. 

Horse cams may add new excitement – KOLD-TV
http://www.kold.com/story/15102933/horse-cams-may-add-new-excitement

Technology is changing the way fans view sporting events.

New technology allowed NASCAR to amassed a huge following.

Football cameras now take the viewer on the field for a player’s-eye view.

Now some of that new technology may help revive the sport of kings, horse racing.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology