I think this thread goes a good way towards exposing the pick4 (or 3,5,6) as a poor bet. Perhaps it's a very good way to play if one is focusing on a single track that offers good wagering opportunities. Unfortunately, presently, there isn't a track in the US that does this consistently. Most tracks (with very few 'minor' exceptions) just don't have large enough field sizes OR consistently competitive fields. HOL this past Friday night is a good example of a card with VERY LIMITED wagering opportunities. Maybe there were a couple of one number exacta plays that were worth playing but the card overall wasn't worth staying up for.
With so many tracks running and with so many limited plays at each of them, the way to go, IMO, is identifying the races that are competitive, that offer good opportunities, at these tracks and going VERTICAL. What's a better play: working a bunch of hours to play a pick4 at a track and getting back 3:1 or losing money; or hitting a one number, cinch exacta that pays 6:1 and takes all of a few minutes to handicap? (Of course, much time needs to be spent to find these 'bettable' races.)
For those wishing to stick to the original method, might I suggest WO, where the racing is competitive (for the most part) and the fields (relatively) large.
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