And Another Thing -- Santa Anita Pick 6 December 29

[SoCalMan2]

On the Santa Anita website, the following press release was posted --


\"MEDIA ADVISORY: TELECOM PROBLEM DELAYS TOTE INFORMATION


            ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 29, 2006)—Due to an on-going telecommunications problem that has prevented the transmission of tote information from out-of-state sources, there is currently a delay in compiling out-of-state information, including the results of today’s Pick Six.

            Santa Anita regrets this delay and the inconvenience it has wrought.  When the information in question is available, today’s Pick Six prices will be posted at www.santaanita.com.\"

This can be located here --  www.santaanita.com/news/pr.php?f=mediaadvisorytelecomproblemdelaysto

Apparently, they could not calculate the Santa Anita pick six payoff because they were missing information from out of state.  Does this make any sense to anybody?  As far as I can tell, the only information that is necessary from out of state in order to calculate the pick 6 payoff is every single pick 6 bet from out of state that is included in the pick six pool.  No other information should be relevant (or it should already be known -- things like the take, breakage, etc.).  That critical information should have been locked in at Santa Anita before the 3rd race which kicked off the pick six.  If it wasn\'t, how does anybody know they can trust the tote system?  How on earth can they announce after the 8th race that they still do not know all the pick 6 bets which were supposed to have been locked in hours earlier?

Am I overreacting or missing something here?  I support everything that is being said here about cleaning up the game, but, remember, it is not just trainers or jockeys that can screw you....the tote system is almost a more important playing field than the track itself, and, if people are screwing with that playing field, then what happens on the track is a lot less relevant than it should be.

[bjt]

Canada started common-pool wagering with Santa Anita on Dec 28th .It was originally scheduled for the 26th but Santa Anita officials wanted to hold off , as they didn\'t want to take a chance of screwing up opening day . This may or may not be the cause - but for the lack of any other info just BLAME CANADA . bj

[Dana666]

That was a very strange day. They didn\'t post the pick six prices till well into the night. Reminded me of the 2000 election.

[ronwar]

Strange indeed! I ended up having 5 of 6 in the pick six(singled the 7 in the 7th race - ouch!) had to leave the track without cashing the ticket.  After 45 minutes of waiting was told to come back tomorrow.

[marcus]

i definately don\'t get it either , must be that layed back west coast style ... don\'t feel bad - i\'m still wating for a 5 th pl check for an online SA handicapping contest ( dmtc.com/contest ) that ended in october \'06 .

they didn\'t make me wait 45 mins and then give me some story but rather , i\'m getting the telephone / voicemail / email run around and then a story ...

it\'s only $ 200.00 bucks but still it\'s more than just the principle of the thing  + i can\'t figure out whether to laugh or cry .

[Delmar Deb]

Actually, the delay was the result of an explosion and damage to the main line via Roberts Communication.  There is a backup system, but about 5 or 6 of the tracks back east discontinued the backup line and had to submit the info manually.

Same problem occured again today, and GG posted an initial return on a Pick 3 of $49 which changed to over $800 when the rest of the data came in.

I cannot believe that after talking about it on the local radio shows and with it still occuring today, there is nothing on the SA website, DRF, Bloodhorse or any other publication EXPLAINING what happened!  

But then again, providing accurate and timely information to the horseplayer - even when it is to the track\'s advantage to do so - is forgotten all too often.