A great day for the sport.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

I totally agree that the 3 to 4 horse thing isn't really helping a newbie. But do we really want to teach people to identify the favorite every race and try and make money with it?

I don't have the right answer, and I'm not necessarily saying you are wrong. Of course everyone isn't going to "understand" everything about handicapping. But, as we all eventually did, we got introduced and found a method we use. I just wonder if oversimplifying things would become counterproductive.

The NYRA format is already far and away closest to the step that will educate the newbie given the wealth of information that is given and why one should or should select a particular horse. That said, rather than having Maggie tell you the 6 has dapples, why not have her sit in front of a computer and show how one would bet the horses given the information that Andy and Eric provided?

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

The NYRA format is already far and away closest to the step that will educate the newbie given the wealth of information that is given and why one should or should select a particular horse. That said, rather than having Maggie tell you the 6 has dapples, why not have her sit in front of a computer and show how one would bet the horses given the information that Andy and Eric provided?

I think Maggie's area of expertise in in how horses look physically, so she is supposed to be telling us who has dapples and whatnot. But, I agree (and think it's a great idea) that it would be beneficial to have someone showing people how to go about betting the horse or horses they like.

[3kings]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

I think Maggie's area of expertise in in how horses look physically, so she is supposed to be telling us who has dapples and whatnot. But, I agree (and think it's a great idea) that it would be beneficial to have someone showing people how to go about betting the horse or horses they like.

My question is are the newbies listening to Andy and the gang? If they are do they understand it? I listen and have learned a great deal about handicapping but a lot of it deals with race dynamics, trips, and stats that are garnered from formulator etc......

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

The NYRA format is already far and away closest to the step that will educate the newbie given the wealth of information that is given and why one should or should select a particular horse. That said, rather than having Maggie tell you the 6 has dapples, why not have her sit in front of a computer and show how one would bet the horses given the information that Andy and Eric provided?

I think a person in the paddock with a clue is a big positive as the info she gives isnt found on paper anywhere else. IMO you cant teach people how to construct tickets in between races, at least very well. I think the best way to educate people is push them to the sources we used when learning about the game including books by Beyer and others.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I think a person in the paddock with a clue is a big positive as the info she gives isnt found on paper anywhere else. IMO you cant teach people how to construct tickets in between races, at least very well. I think the best way to educate people is push them to the sources we used when learning about the game including books by Beyer and others.

That may as well be true. Like Math said pages ago, finding resources on the internet really changed things for him.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

The NYRA format is already far and away closest to the step that will educate the newbie given the wealth of information that is given and why one should or should select a particular horse. That said, rather than having Maggie tell you the 6 has dapples, why not have her sit in front of a computer and show how one would bet the horses given the information that Andy and Eric provided?

Maggie does A LOT more than that. Take the 6th race today as an example. She remarked not only that she liked the impression that Won Wild Dude made in the paddock but also that his small feet made him likely to handle the slop well. She also said that Driven By Solar, the favorite, was not his normal self in the paddock and was going first off a claim by Jacobson from Pletcher.

That is useful information IMO.

[blackthroatedwind]

I'm not sure where the idea that Maggie should be explaining ticket construction came from.

We prefer to have people stick to their strengths. Maggie's not a bettor, but I defy anyone to point out someone who gives out more useful opinions on physicality on a daily basis.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I'm not sure where the idea that Maggie should be explaining ticket construction came from.

We prefer to have people stick to their strengths. Maggie's not a bettor, but I defy anyone to point out someone who gives out more useful opinions on physicality on a daily basis.

Before you get defensive, no one challenged the job that Maggie does.

That said, don't you think that it would be beneficial for someone to be teaching ticket structure based upon the information that you are handing out?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Before you get defensive, no one challenged the job that Maggie does.

That said, don't you think that it would be beneficial for someone to be teaching ticket structure based upon the information that you are handing out?

I'm not getting defensive at all.

I don't agree that discussing ticket construction between races is a good idea.

I think helping people learn about ticket construction is a good idea. However, doing it during pre-race prattles would not be a good way to get the information across. It's more conceptual than real time specific.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Maggie does A LOT more than that. Take the 6th race today as an example. She remarked not only that she liked the impression that Won Wild Dude made in the paddock but also that his small feet made him likely to handle the slop well. She also said that Driven By Solar, the favorite, was not his normal self in the paddock and was going first off a claim by Jacobson from Pletcher.

That is useful information IMO.

It is all useful information IMO, but if you're trying to learn the game it would be extremely worthwhile to be able to take that information and use it to your advantage. And while you see it as useful information, I can tell you as a horsewoman myself and who looks at those types of things, I've been told more times than not that the physical impression of a horse isn't important. So I'm not so sure a newbie would be listening to that information if that is what they are lead to believe.