Year End Results, Wrap Up and Awards . . .

[DonGuido]

One other interesting note for this year that it was the first year I can remember when we did not have a THREE PEAT winner. We had a fair share of REPEATS in points and ROI though.

I may be wrong on this, so if someone remembers a THREE PEAT, let me know.

[Real Quiet]

With 2017 in the books let me first say congrats to Don Guido for putting up a lot of points and winning our handicapper of the year award. Kudos to Joly also for knocking down 500 points to finish a strong second. I win a few ROI Contests and once in a blue moon I'll hit a points contest so I'm proud to add a second Gallivan Cup to my resume on our biggest contest day. Last year Ruffian won our ROI Championship and this year we have a new first time winner in Cruzan. Over the course of our 50 weeks Cruzan made $1426 virtual dollars and had a stellar 45% Return on Investment. Yours truly finished second with an $1139 profit and a 21% ROI. In addition El Prado made $711 virtual dollars and Roamin added $170 to his bankroll. 4 out of the 12 regulars making some cash is impressive. Last year we lost 20% as a group. This year it was only a little over 5%. Probably our strongest year ever and better than the track takeout. As noted earlier, NJ Stinks led the way with 8 ROI wins. Good job NJS stopping the Ruffian 3 peat. Don Guido and Joly B added 6 each. Cruzan, Real Quiet, Indian Hemp, Ruffian and Plenilune had 4 wins each. We did spread it around as everyone had a win in 2017. Nobody did a Zippy Chippy. Ruffian kids me about wearing the bridesmaid gown. I finished second 9 times this year to get the Jacque's Who award. 5 players had $1000 profit weeks. El Prado collected $1510, Roamin got $1260 (on Abel Tasman), Cruzan got $1225 (and finished second that day), the "Don" got a $1276 payout and Ron Yonker nailed it to the tune of $1055. Talk about sniffing out those bombs. Well played all. Sad to see a couple players MIA. Hopefully El Prado and Swedejxn are just taking a freshening. Digger come back. I know your out there at BOTB's. While looking back at 2016 I saw Criminal Type had a +ROI that year. He never missed a day while here and will always be missed. Everytime a law enforcement horse wins I'm sure he's smiling. Thanks to my partners in stats, Plenilune and Don Guido for tabulating the results each week and props to all who keep the lights on here by showing up each week and thanks to our host Steve Byk for providing us a home. Shortly the "lifetime" stats will be recapped. All 497 weeks of it! Congrats again to Don for the most Points and to Cruzan for the highest ROI.

[DonGuido]

Thanks RQ for your expected and always professionally delivered statistical yet creative narration. It was a good year if we were lucky enough to take home a trophy or be mentioned in your summation or maybe weren't so lucky . . . this year. It was still a good year for all!

Y'all knows how much I luvs ya just being here!!!

Enjoy the weekend off, relax and in the much cooler weather, watch some high school and/or college football (I will for sure) and don't forget to honor and thank any and all veterans you know or don't know.

See ya in the gate on the 18th wherever our Gallivan Cup Champ may decide to start us off for the new 2017-2018 handicapping year.

[Real Quiet]

A few little stats to report before we start what we call the 2018 season. Since I have been keeping the ROI we have played approximately 497 weeks. 43 players have played at least one week. Should all 43 show up together I'm sure Plenilune would be pleased. I would flee to warmer climates. After the Breeders Cup I maintained a one win lead over Ruffian , 45 to 44 with Criminal Type at 36, Joly B at 35 and NJ Stinks at 34. I kept my lead in part because I am too stubborn to miss a week. Ruffians win percentage is a lot higher at 11% with NJ Stinks and Criminal Type a little over 10%. After 219 weeks Digger is the only player to still show a profit having collected $24,354 and wagered $23,373 for an ROI of +4% and a $981 profit. As I say every year "don't sit on your laurels Digger, show us what you got". The Jacques Who award still goes to JolyB who maintains his lead with 51 second place finishes. Shows you JB can always be found in the photo finish. Win or lose he's always in the shadow of the wire. Digger also leads the In The Money percentage having hit the board and collecting points 35% of his weeks played. Cruzan has hit the board 28% of the time with Plenilune and Joly at 27%. There are a few players who are three time positive ROI finishers. NJ Stinks made money in 2009 2010 and 2013. Roamin has made money in 2009 2014 and 2017 and Criminal Type made money in 2010 2011 and 2016. CT will be missed but not forgotten. Real Quiet, Husker Princess, Little Watermelon, Digger, Dance Smartly, El Prado, Ruffian, Dapplehorse and Joly B were also multiple ROI earners.
What can we learn from this information? It's that I have too much free time on my hands and that if all you players stop showing up I will be forced to watch soap opera's rather than keeping ROI stats and that does not float my boat. Thanks once again to all who play this great game of horse race
picking.

[Real Quiet]

I received my Breeders Cup glass yesterday. It is much appreciated. A fitting bookend to my Gallivan Cup Thanks to Plenilune for a fantastic end of the year award.