One Year Ago
 

It was Travers Day 2006. I was at the MGM Grand in Vegas with a group of 12 friends for a bachelor party. On the day before the Travers I had a great day playing horses, and the folks in charge of the racebook agreed to let me use one of the skyboxes the next day. Long story short, I got all of my friends fired up about playing the Travers card Pick 6. So we all spent Travers Day in the skybox drinking beer and betting horses, and I put together a Pick 6 ticket that I felt would give the group a shot at a big payday.

I put together a $720 ticket, and ended up covering half of the bet myself. We hit 6 of 6......but lost money. I don't remmebr the exact numbers, but I think 6 of 6 paid something like $560, and then we had 5 of 6 something like 13 or 14 times. I cashed the ticket for around $707, for a loss of $13.

Yes, it was a banner day in my handicapping career. If only I had singled Henny Hughes instead of tossing in Songster and Mach Ride.......

Could have been worse. At least you didn't have to sign for it to cash the ticket!!

It almost WAS a lot worse. There was a Darley horse in the 2nd or 3rd leg who almost won at 18-1. I didn't use him. That would have ended the excitement of the day very quickly.

I forgot to mention that I was the only horse racing fan in the group.

that's a lot of action and entertainment ... $13 split several ways...

Yeah, and no one complained. A few of the guys didn't understand how it was possible to actually LOSE money by hitting the bet. But I think I explained it thoroughly.

Bedford Falls for Eoin Harty is the horse in question. I remember because of the large win bet I had on him. Harty is dangerous off the layoff and I remember it looked like Garrett Gomez had the thing measured off. Then up came Simon Pure to grab it right at the wire.

NT

So you were in Las Vegas Friday and had no plans to go to the Travers the next day?

Huh?

If that question was directed at me, I'm confused.

Yes, it was. So you're saying that you were in Las Vegas the day before the Travers, and did so well that they sent you to NY on the red eye? Do you mean a skybox in Saratoga?

No, a skybox at the MGM Grand Race and Sportsbook. They have three of them.

Oh, ok, so I'm not AS jealous now but still jealous. ;)

I hope the pick 6 pays a little better this Saturday!