I haven’t finished reading this thread yet, but I have been following the discussion here re the CAWs.
Two things I have to add.
First, I’m just going to say it—- this is the EPSTEIN of horse racing and its parimutuel gambling.
It is corrupt, skewed, and abusive to everyone else. The tracks themselves are co-conspirators. Shame on them. They are eating their own.
This is all still mostly in the dark but needs to be brought into the light.
I think the discussions on this board are probably the only effort out there to do so. Please keep it up, persevere.
Second: Horseplayers lack effective litigation resources. Is there any chance of a horseplayers association forming and retaining real litigation powers? i.e. real shark lawyers. I would pay dues to that end.
If something isn’t done, the game will continue to lose players as payouts continue to diminish.
I remember when Saratoga turf triples were routinely 4-figure payouts. I have no problem betting $100, $200 to hit that, but I ain’t going to lay $10 down to hit a $75tri
Multi-race winning wagers were once upon a time routinely close to life-changing payouts, and it took bucks and balls to play one. Now, three and four figure payouts in multi-race wagers are routine.
Too many races payout a pittance for the effort regular live players put in, even on big days.
And that isn’t because some people have better data. It is because of the CAW corrupt wagering models allowed by THE TRACKS THEMSELVES, who are truly the greedy guilty party in this downward spiral.
We fight it or we die.
They are killing the thrill.
And likewise, I have scaled back my wagering. It’s not worth it on most races now. I love numbers and handicapping, but the thrill is in cashing a big ticket. And the Thrill is bleeding out.
I will help do whatever it takes to free our parimutuel wagering from this CAW parasite. We need organization and leadership. This is not a naive plea.