WOODBINE .20 pick four

4) 3-5
5) 1-3-6-10-11
6) 2-5
7) 7-8-10

$12

ytd -153

EMERALD DOWNS OPENING DAYYYYYYY


Nice promotion today giving away 50 32inch LCD flat screen TVs.

My guesses were right Winning Machine will run at Hastings tomorrow in the George Royal Stakes (50k 6f) This bodes well as it is one less horse for Heart to worry about in the allowance on the 22nd.

Now onto today's card.......... 8 races, not big fields but its been a while since EMD had big fields! SO Im just happy they put a card on!

Race 5 is the most interesting race on todays card. An 8 horse field of 3 yr old filly maidens (MD claimer 20k purse: 11,500 5f)

1/2 are First time starters trained by Chris Stenslie, a trainer who has definately seen a rise in stock over the last couple seasons, including a great campaign last year. Both these horses appear to have been working in company, and secure the services of two experienced track riders in Leslie Mawing and Debra Hoonan. I do like the fact that they both have 3 5f works leading up to this race, so some foundation is there.

3 Hasn't raced since late August of last year, and the trainer is 6% clip coming off of a 180+ layoff. Will skip. Furthermore the sire Liberty Gold's best horses thus far have excelled at longer distances. This could be building towards later in the meet when more mile + races are carded.

4 first time starter, owned by Don and Judi Gardiner who own quite a few horses in the NW. One particular factor I like about this horse is that it has been training on the polytrack at Pegasus, Pegasus has a very deep polytrack surface, which is slower and quite tiring. Hoping this horse has set a good foundation ( and when she ran at EMD on the 6th she blitzed 3f in 34 1/5).

5 Last out was 2nd to a horse that came back to win a stakes at PM, that said she will have to produce a solid jump from her 3 yr old debut to win this race.

6 trainer Howard Belvoir hits at an 18% clip with horses coming back from a +180 layoff. This horse is the most experienced runner in the field having made 4 starts at 2. She ran relatively evenly in all 4 races not really showing much improvement (32, 27, 32, 31 beyers). She did end the year racing in a restricted stake for state breds, so they could see some promise in this filly too. Did complete a 5f work in a nice 59 3/5 (5/57) on the 7th.

7 THE CHOICE, River of Aces is a filly that raced in January at GG, at the same level we see today. She sert the early pace from the rail, and came up empty. Needless to say the average maiden 20k claimer is stronger at GG then at EMD, and she ran a 46 first time out. Blitzed 4f in 45 1/5. CCould be ready to go! Trainer is also 20% on 61-180 breaks, and the Jockey gives the horse a 5 lb weight reduction while still winning at a 24% clip herself!

8 THE THREAT, Tizzy the cop showed good speed in a maiden special weight at PM (5k purse lol ) raced in March so should be coming back fresh and ready to roll in this race, where as Aces is coming back off a longer layoff.

50c P4s

1: 3,5
2: 1,3
3: 1,3,4,5,8
4: 4,5

$20

5: 1,2,4,5,6,7,8
6: 1
7: 5,6,8
8: 2,6

$21

YTDEMD: -41$

Oaklawn Classix

1-11
1-2-3-10
3
2-6-11
2
1-2-4-6-7


Have an 8-1 singled in the 3rd leg, race 5, Crafty Cal. Sherriff Hotdog has scratched, I think that Crafty Cal will get the lead, if he wins I can lose a lot of tickets there I think.

Will also be playing pick3s, pick4 and late double. Good luck to anyone else playing today.

Or the alternative, I can just be out after the first leg. FML.
1 was rank in stretch, 11 moved too late, #8 at 25-1 takes it weeee.

FWIW, I love racing but totally disagree that the take is relevant. HR was popular at a slower time. I mean, if I drive to Parx, I get a bet down, the race takes 1:30 - fine, whatever, - the next race is a half-hour later!

That just can't compete with poker, slots, table games, other.

Yes, I'm aware of OTB. No one cares really in our or definitely not the younger generation. It's like playing bridge to them - great game, never ever coming back.

Anyone going to beat Hansen? I don't see it, but convince me to back a longer shot this w/e.

Stilgar u crack me up bro. (in a good way).. You are Mr. Emerald!! From Wash St. yearling sales to everything emerald downs, you are the man. I dont care much for Emerald as a product, but having attended the races there a half dozen times or so, I must say its got some charm too it & I for 1 am tired of Rat National, & Chucky Cheese bein the only eve cards the las feew weeks, also wish they would drop a bomb on lone star as well ( they destroyed me las nite, needless to say, they stepped on my roll a lil bit). So thx Stig for ur analysis & firing me up for some emerald downs tonite. Will post anything that catches my eye when i get the form n my hands.

I was hoping HR would compete with poker. It can happen if HR can drop the take out to around 5%. HR is already setup for legal online betting. I think established HR betters would flock to a track with a 5% take out. Again make up the lower take out with higher volume. If it works at 1 track, other tracks would follow, then you would need new betters to come in to keep the profit levels up.

You might be able to get rid of rebate shops and increase profits more. The easiest way for this to work is to have a track owner in dire straights with nothing to lose and decide to drop their take out for a full meet because it's too bold of a move for the big track owners to do it.

HR will always be around, but it's getting harder for the smaller tracks to survive.

It might not work, but I don't see any other options for growth.

I kindly dissagree i know it may seem as tho its a hopeless idea that the younger generation start backng this great sport, but in Markets such as Japan, HK, & europe the game seems to b growing bcos of the younger generation. Give it time, we might follow n suit. Maybe

Naj have to disagree with you,and PTL has hit it on the head why the sport is in a decline,not even a decline but a freefall now. Your reasoning is mostly from what you wrote is the lack of action,which i can understand,but the reason for HR's decline IS THE TAKEKOUT. I wrote several opinions over the last 2 years about just this subject. When the dikhead who headed the CHB board said after they up their takeout to 25% on exotics, where else are the bettors going to go? The small tracks i dont think so. It almost as absurd as it is quoted exactly what he said. I said to that FU,smaller tracks here i come. These same people make decisions for a sport they have no clue about,i mean none. They also said lets try polly track,then cushion,then lets try dirt again,and US the bettors ended up paying for their ignorance.

Oaklawn Race 9

$30 Win #7

$20 Ex 9/7

$5 Tri 9/1,5/1,5,7

Total of $70.

Liking Amazing Shoes, not liking Glinda the Good...

gl all.

right church, wrong pew...

edit: oh, and i messed up my post, it was a 9/1,12/1,7,12 tri. didn't have 5 on the board...

ONE hour to first post! Track filling up nicely. A poor unsuspecting couple asked me a question and I must of given them a thirty minute state of the industry speech! This will happen many more times throughout the meet im sure.

By the way that couple said Luck the show brought them back to the track for the first time in 20yrs (since Longacres)

What is Luck the show?

Nevermind Stu,forgot all about that show. I remembered when i use to watch HRTV online they would talk about the filming a couple years ago,but didnt even know they followed through and made a show of it.

A good opening day at EMD today! No horses pulled up or vanned off! always the most important part!

CHALK was todays overriding theme.

There was a large crowd on hand.

Speed held well.

Didn't lose my shirt so thats good!

Felt like a winner when I got there early enough to get into the paid parking area for free ;D

It will always be my local track, much the same way the old guys are protective and longful for the old days of Longacres in Renton. Yes are there constant jokes by some patrons about the plow horses we have running? of course, but to have the ability and opportunity to watch live horse racing is something I won't take forgranted.

To me this isn't all about the betting, which I think for some of hte guys it is, in that case go to an OTB, or stay home and bet online..... I do love watching the horses run win/lose/draw its always great to see them roaring down the lane in person.

Without the local track to draw me in and foster a physical connection to the industry as a whole I don't think my interest in the sport would be there.


Good crowd tonight, I noticed this last year as well.....EMD is doing a better job at bringing out a younger crowd, which is all positive signs for the future. Now we just have to teach them how to bet!

I try to be patient though! I don't want to be one of those guys Yelling from the back of the line with 15 minutes to post. Especially on an opening day with promotions etc...you are going to have new patrons and you have to be understanding.

On days when Heart races and I'm with the fam I sit at a table with a window view, but on other racing days I'm a lone wanderer Thats how I justified this late night snack! all the walking I did!

Watched your 2nd pick 4. A real horse race on the last leg. Rooting for you and felt like I had money on the race Good job. Great to get back on Twinspires again.

And there is nothing like going to live racing, can't wait to start betting again.

The Bluegrass is not small potatoes but, their eyes are set on the KD. Good speed in this bunch, not like the softies he faced in the Gotham. I'm still not sold on Hansen going classic distances versus quality speed.

In exotics, I will go deep trying to beat him but, as for win bets.. Give me Dale Roman's Dullahan and if Hansen employs a stalk strat and can't get it going... Heavy breathing is a solid longshot speed play from the rail.

Woodbine .20 p4's

4) 3-6-7
5) 3-5
6) 1-6-8-9-10
7) 1-5

$12

7) 1-5
8) 2-3-4
9) 1-3-5
10) 2-3-10

$10.80

ytd -176

Oaklawn closing day. I'm sad.

Mandatory payout on classix, with a little 10k to start it out.

Here is my classix ticket - lets see if I can get out of the first leg today.

9-10
2-4-5-7
2-7-11
6
3-6-7-8
1-3-4

Only one single, Assmussen runner in race 6 a MSW, has raced 4 times and improved each time, this isn't an easy field but if can get the lead which is so important here, I like him to finally pop his cherry.

Race 7, I really wanted to play against Astrology as he hasn't raced in 8 months, but in the end decided that I would absolutely hate life if I got here alive and he donked me out, so threw him on there. Didn't really cost much more, and just for life sanity put him on.

The rest of these plays seem fairly standard, have a few longer shots sprinkled in there, so hopefully I can finally post a winning card here.

Good luck to you all today.

Nope. 30-1 dong wins first leg after my 9 got pushed the whole race. JFC - maybe we'll get an alternate 5 payout.

Hit 5/6 on this. 6/6 paid $99693, 5/6 paid $744. Was hoping that there wasn't a winner and 5/6 would full pay, but this isn't too bad a result I suppose.

i had written about Perfect Officer a few times before. great effort there in the Shakertown, as always. nice to see him finally score, track record to boot.