Value Tech Blog

Gambling measure would add races, slot machines at fairgrounds – Springfield, IL – The State Journal-Register
http://www.sj-r.com/state/x1495163217/Gambling-measure-would-add-races-slot-machines-at-fairgrounds

People would be able to wager on horse races and slot machines at the Illinois State Fairgrounds for up to nine months a year under a proposal introduced in the Illinois House on Tuesday.

The measure, introduced by Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, would expand gambling throughout the state, adding casinos in Chicago, Danville, Rockford, Park City (near Waukegan) and an unspecified site in south suburban Chicago.

Slot machines would be allowed in both of Chicago’s airports, and existing casinos could add gambling positions and place slot machines at racetracks.

(via Instapaper)

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

Bill Finley’s take on the Preakness is spot on. 

Preakness Lessons: It’s a tough game – ESPN

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triplecrown2011/columns/story?columnist=finley_bill&id=6581240

Shackleford? His win in the Preakness defied all handicapping logic. That and other reflections of the middle jewel of the Triple Crown:

The Preakness was just another reminder of why there are a lot more broken-down horseplayers out there than rich ones. If you know anything about horse racing you knew Shackleford had no chance to win the Preakness. At least that’s what this “expert” and most “experts” thought.
With all due respect to a horse who is obviously pretty good, he stunk in the Derby. Inexplicably, every jockey but Jesus Castanon fell asleep during the early running of the Derby, allowing Shackleford to crawl through opening fractions of :48 3/5 and 1:13 2/5. Those were the slowest half-mile and three-quarter-mile fractions since 1947 (on a day when the track was listed as “slow”) and a quality horse, with that kind of trip, should have won. Instead, he was passed by three horses inside the final furlong and finished fourth.
In the Preakness, there was no way he was going to get the same sort of trip, not with speedball sprinter Flashpoint in the race. So when Flashpoint, who finished last, and Shackleford battled through opening fractions of :22 3/5 and :46 4/5, Shackleford had to be done. Right?

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

Hoping they get things worked out.  Prescott is a great place, and you can bet Yavapai in Vegas!

Four days from start date, Downs’ fate remains undecided – Prescott Daily Courier
http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=94151

Yavapai Downs racetrack officials still haven’t figured out whether horse racing will open for Memorial Day Weekend or not, but they figure they’ll have to make a decision by Wednesday when they meet again with the Arizona Racing Commission. Jeff Wasowicz, chair of the Yavapai Farm & Agriculture Association that runs the racetrack, told the commission Monday during an emergency telephonic meeting that the association can’t open the track Saturday as scheduled

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

Penn National crew knows of dangers inside the starting gate – Patriot-News (blog)
http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2011/05/penn_national_crew_knows_of_da.html

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

Shackleford ‘Better Than 50-50’ for Belmont
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/63168/shackleford-better-than-50-50-for-belmont

Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Shackleford returned to Churchill Downs in Kentucky May 22, and trainer Dale Romans said there’s a “better than 50-50 chance” the colt will race in the June 11 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

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

Preakness: Attendance Up, Total Handle Down
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/63161/preakness-attendance-up-total-handle-down

Pimlico Race Course reported its sixth-largest attendance and seventh-largest pari-mutuel handle for the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) program held May 21.

Maryland Jockey Club officials said attendance on a beautiful day—sunshine and temperatures in the low 80s—was 107,398, up from 95,760 in 2010. Total handle on the 13-race card was $76,376,689, down from $79,248,002 last year.

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

Shackleford edges Animal Kingdom to win 136th Preakness
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bal-preakness-2011-shackleford-wins-preakness-2011,0,1805257.story

Shackleford’s clean run allowed him to hold off a late charge from Animal Kingdom to win the 136th running of the Preakness Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.

Shackleford, trained by Dale Romans and ridden by Jesus Castanon, led most of the Kentucky Derby but was caught by a group that included Animal Kingdom and finished fourth. Many expected him to jump to an early lead but fade at the Preakness. He thrived running the shorter distance, though, and the early 12-1 shot won by about half a length. He paid 27.20 to win.

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

Horse Racing Gets Squeezed By Gambling’s Spread : NPR
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/21/136499967/horse-racing-gets-squeezed-by-gamblings-spread

Races between thoroughbred horses have been held in the United States since the 1600s. With the second jewel in the Triple Crown series – The Preakness – set to run Saturday, its host racetrack is struggling to balance its books.

A 2005 study says that racing directly impacts the U.S. economy to the tune of $10.6 billion a year. And yet, there’s been hand-wringing in Maryland, which hosts the Preakness, over whether an industry that’s been losing millions of dollars a year can survive.

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

Dialed In passes Animal Kingdom as betting favorite
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/horseracing/bs-sp-preakness-notes-0521-20110520,0,7563043.story?track=rss

By the time betting closed Friday night, Animal Kingdom had slipped a bit in the eyes of betters. Dialed In will begin Saturday as a 3-1 favorite, and Animal Kingdom is currently the second choice at 7-2

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Animal Kingdom, Dialed in co-favorites in early Preakness wagering
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/05/20/animal-kingdom-dialed-in-preakness-co-favorites.aspx

With $101,254 in the win pool, Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Animal Kingdom and beaten favorite Dialed In are the 3-to-1 co-favorites to capture the middle jewel of Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes (G1).

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