Wow! They fell like apples in a windstorm… the horses have run… away from the Preakness this year!
… and then there were eleven! Yes, only 11 horses will compete for the win in the second jewel in the Triple Crown.
This could mean that we’ll have a TC winner this year because no one showed up. OR… they’re all planning to spoil the chances by resting for the third leg; the Belmont Stakes.
I love her on Broadway (especially in “Wicked” where I believe she improved on Kristin Chenoweth’s Glinda), I love her on TV as “Ivy” the star of “Smash”… why oh why did I not listen to her in Louisville? She picked “I’ll have Another” to win the Kentucky Derby. I overlooked him completely!
Megan – I’ll never doubt you again!
It was an impressive win over a very tired “Bodemeister” who had set record breaking splits during the race. Why? I’m so surprised that Mike Smith rode him so hard instead of letting him relax and settle in behind the speedster “Trinniberg”. We all knew only two things about this race:
Well, here it is – one of my favorite days of the year. Kentucky Derby Day!
First – Congratulations to the first female jockey to win the Kentucky Oaks; Rosie Napravnik. Of course, the horse deserves some of the credit. So Congratulations to ”Believe You Can”. The owners, trainers and handlers all Believed!
So, now comes the biggie: the Kentucky Derby. This, the 138th running is impossible to figure. I’ve been sure of my picks in the past (right or wrong), but this year – it’s the most open field as far as possible winners go that I can remember.
My favorite since the Arkansas Derby (as you know, Oaklawn is my favorite track), Bodemeister is likely to become everyone’s favorite come post time. I’d like to get a better price on him, but now you all know he’s the fastest of the field. He has as many triple digit Beyers as does the rest of the field – combined! His 3 are better than their three – na na na na… na na! LOL
The Post Positions have been announced, and nothing’s changed!
Usually, the PP dictates changes in the Pre-PP odds, but not this year. None of my favorites are substantially affected by their PP… so here are my picks:
I’ve been uncharacteristic this year in my coverage of the Kentucky Derby for 2012. There are so many reasons for this that I hardly know where to start.
But, start I must, so here goes:
“Back in the day” – it used to be so much less complicated to pick a winning horse. Not easier, just less complicated. I used a tiny “computer” from Radio shack. I wrote a program in “Basic” that was a very efficient numbers cruncher. That’s all we had to go on… numbers. We had the (limited) Past Performances and the Daily Racing Form – Period.
LAS VEGAS — There is a call for MORE Federal Regulation over Gambling on the Internet. It’s been a year since “Black Friday” when the FBI shut down “Full Tilt Poker”, “PokerStars” and “Absolute Poker”.
Now I’m not saying that was a bad thing. Several execs and celebs were charged with serious felonies. So – Good!… Good Riddance… GoodBye Bad Guys. But, that left the US players with serious holes in their gambling time (and bankrolls).
The dust is settling a bit now that the final two prep races are history.
History, but not historic… at least not obviously historic.
We’ve witnessed greatness fall to mediocrity… we’ve watched mediocrity gain greatness… We’re seeing the Kentucky Derby field more clearly now that there are only 3 weeks to wait for it.
And that 3 weeks is critical. Is it too short a time to come back from a big race and run a mile and a quarter? Can an easy win in the Arkansas Derby mean that Bodemeister ran too fast and hurt his chances to win the Kentucky Derby – OR – did it mean that he had no problem with the field today, no problem with the track today… and depending upon how he comes out of this race… will he be a favorite on the 1st day of May?
Yep, I have a “hidden passion”. My close friends and my relatives know about this… and now so too will my readers…
It’s a guilty pleasure. There are obvious reasons for my keeping this from you. Repercussions you know. Too often this passion causes assumptions (warranted or not) that one may not want to address. I however, don’t fit the “stereotypical” fan of this activity. This is something that gets me excited… watching it! I don’t participate, not because I’m left-handed (the reason I can’t participate in Jai Alai), but because 1 – I’m too old for it, and 2 – I lack the talent necessary for it…
I admire those who do participate at ANY level, and hold in awe those professionals that do it day in and day out – tirelessly and with seemingly unearthly abilities! It gives me the “goosies” as J-Lo likes to call them.
Last night I watched a very talented group of teenagers do it. I was amazed! They did it like they had been doing it for longer than their young lives would allow. Where do they learn these things? How did they get so good at it?
I just released my latest digital version of “Winning Craps Money” for the Amazon Kindle. There are no changes in the strategies, but I added new pictures and some practice session tables.
I inserted two “optional plays” that I hadn’t covered in the last version; “Oddsman Betting” and “Don’t Buys”.
The Clickbank version will soon be changed as well.
Yesterday, Amazon shipped my new proofs to me, after they arrive, I’ll be making the soft-cover book available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble’s Nook and in their stores as well. I’ll be putting up the iBook version soon too.
This morning I was asked a question by a reader (Thanks P. Shumanski)…
“Just read the new version of your e book on craps. Very good! I have a question you may want the reader to know. If you have say 4 numbers covered and the point is 6, the shooter makes the point and you lose the 6 but still have 3 covered numbers left on the table. On the come out roll the shooter rolls a 7 and both sides win, you and the shooter. Do you bet against him on the new come out point since he rolled a natural 7 even though we won?”
The Sport of Kings… the Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports…
That’s not idle banter. We’ve been saying that for decades – and for good reason. The Kentucky Derby and its siblings (they’d hate me for that – so don’t tell them) are coming. And that’s exciting stuff!
I love the KD, not because it’s the most popular horse race in America, not because it signals Springtime, not because it’s a great opportunity for handicappers and gamers, but because: OK – all of them!
I used to live racing…. that’s all I did for 3 years… and it consumed me too. In order to be successful at handicapping, you’ll have to spend countless hours studying the horses and their connections. When I say hours… I mean it! I would handicap the day’s races over breakfast…. and again at night after leaving the track.
My Love/Hate relationship continues! This organization is such a mess… it’s total chaos down there at TB Central!
I have inside information here… inside my head… I hear voices you know! Once in awhile my voices tell me rumors, sometimes they tell me more than that… sometimes they even speak truth! I never know what to believe until it’s confirmed in the various “trusted” sources.
So, what’s up with the Trailblazers anyway? What do my voices tell me about their recent decisions? Why did they do the massive dance on March 15th? What was their motivation?
There’s a loud roar coming from the Pacific Northwest… If you listen closely, you’ll hear laughter, crying, joy, despair… yes, it’s a cacophony of human outcry…
The Trailblazers slashed and cut and maimed and yes… killed like Brutus and the Gang of Senators attacking Caesar.
I am so pissed! I just read a Christian article on the evils of gambling. Whether or not you choose to believe that Gambling is evil is up to you… but you can’t be swayed by the foolish arguments in the article I just read. I’m not going to tell you where to find the article because I don’t want trouble, but mostly because I don’t want them to benefit from my large group of readers! I AM however, going to quote extensively from the rubbish that the writer (R. Mohler) professes (and probably fully believes).
First, he states that 1/3 of the nation’s money is spent on Gambling. If you read my posts, you know that he’s dead wrong! Truth is; 100% of all the World’s money is spent on gambling! Whether you put it under your mattress (a real gamble) or put it into savings (a real gamble) or spend it (a real gamble) it’s spent on gambling. It’s a gamble when you buy a stock, bond or commodity (but he probably thinks THAT’S alright!) It’s a gamble when you buy insurance… you know what… it’s a gamble when you pick out one head of cauliflower over the others… or when you buy cauliflower at all. More than just spending your money goes through the process of gambling… do you not think that picking your spouse was a gamble? Yes, Christians and non-Christians… EVERY single decision you make is a gamble.
He then goes on to enlighten us with this gem: “The basic impulse behind gambling is greed-a basic sin that is the father of many other evils.” Greed – isn’t that the reason we all go to work everyday????? Isn’t that the reason we “gamble” on those aforementioned, socially acceptable stocks????? If you hear someone say that money makes the world go ’round… you’re listening to a greedy person.
Things are really moving toward legalizing Gambling (in spite of the death of the Kentucky bill).
But, it’s such a total mess that it’s very difficult to determine what’s going to work and what isn’t. The reason for this is that each State is maneuvering for control over its inhabitants. So, let’s move to this state… no, let’s move to that state… no, can’t do that because it’s more “friendly” in this other state…. Where the heck is our Federal Legislators????
Wanna know how crazy it’s getting?
California got a new co-sponsor today for its gambling law. If you move to Cali, you can get a gambling license, only to be scrutinized by some unknown or yet unmanned committee.. and oh yeah – the license will cost you $30 Million Dollars!!!!!
The thieves in DC have pulled off a great con! All along, they (Republicans) want to tax the (disappearing) middle class to extinction. There is a very large number of us who have fallen to the depths of begging to be taxed… for the “privilege” of playing Poker online!
Forget about the fact the MILLIONS play online around the world without the albatross hanging around their necks. They don’t have our elected thieves! Forget about the fact that what we do with OUR time and OUR money should be OUR choices. Here! PLEASE Tax us! Please take a chunk of our money! The Gov’t hook is in our mouths… it’s set, and we’re being reeled in!
I don’t know about you, but I’m so tired of the same old song coming out of Washington… Do anything to defeat Obama! Do anything to divide the classes! Do anything to protect the wealthy! Do anything to oppress the poor!
You fell into a great deal when you befriended Bill Gates, but it seems that’s the last good decision you’ve made. Your businesses have been far less than stellar and very weird (UFOs, Old Rock ‘n Roll, Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame etc). I won’t discuss high tech disasters like Layered Inc, Skypix, Charter, Egghead, and Interval Research (you can’t even successfully sue over patents – even Harry Potter beat you). Even Microsoft is better off since (because of) your departure. But I want to concentrate on something closer and dearer to the hearts of my readers… your other love; Sports.
As the owner of the Seattle Seahawks, some unknown team in an unknown sport (soccer) and of course, the Portland Trailblazers you have reached the pinnacle of mediocrity. Even the Trailblazers franchise has a very checkered past under your leadership. You bought it lock, stock and barrel from a good owner and management team at a time when it was hitting on all cylinders. But what has it done lately????
Nothing! I can’t say it any clearer nor eloquently. The team has done nothing! You might have taken a page from the past and not made the horrendous mistake of passing up Kevin Durant for some guy …. what’s his name? Oh Yeah – Greg Oden! But no! You repeated the monumental screwup of passing on Michael Jordan for … what’s his name? Oh Yeah – Sam Bowie.
It seems to me that we’ve been handed the best tool available for getting Online Gambling legalized in the US.
Poker is a great pastime, and we’ve proven that by skirting the law, avoiding the funding restrictions, and ignoring the UIGEA.
… and what did we get? Screwed! Screwed out of our money by unscrupulous, greedy operators of such sites as: Full Tilt Poker, Ultimate Bet, and Absolute Poker. Doesn’t that alone SCREAM for US Regulation? It’s the US Department of Justice that brought those cheating executives down for the good of the whole World… and the good of Poker, Online Gambling, and players everywhere.
I have to say “I told you so”. I’m still against the UIGEA… more so than ever! Can anyone now say that US intervention is wrong? Can anyone now say to the US Gov’t – “Hands Off Internet Gambling”?
DOJ says Full Tilt was a global Ponzi scheme
20 September 2011
By Dan Igo
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Tuesday that Full Tilt Poker operated as a “global Ponzi scheme” and that its primary owners, including poker professionals Howard Lederer and Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, defrauded the site’s players out of hundreds of millions of dollars.
The DOJ filed a motion to amend an earlier civil complaint against Full Tilt Poker to include “additional allegations, claims, and defendants concerning a fraudulent scheme by Full Tilt Poker and its Board of Directors concerning the misuse of players’ funds,” according to a memorandum sent out by Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney from the Southern District of New York.
“Full Tilt was not a legitimate poker company, but a global Ponzi scheme,” Bharara said in a statement. “Full Tilt insiders lined their own pockets with funds picked from the pockets of their most loyal customers while blithely lying to both players and the public alike about the safety and security of the money deposited.”
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