Yup. I also forgot I was supposed to take my kids to the local community colleges open farm day last weekend. I plan on getting shitfaced on mint Juleps on sat anyway.
To answer the question. The derby is a big field so I usually pick a couple of longshots to win place and show. I used to work for magna entertainment, owned Santa Anita and Preakness before going bankrupt, as an analyst, but I still couldn't do better than break even betting wise. So I guess I shouldn't say anything.
No question about it. I did take them to the zoo yesterday. On the other hand, the wife and I spent so much money on the back yard we had none left over for vacation. Good thing they are under 2.
There's what, a 17% rake straight off the top? That's pretty tough to overcome. I usually pick middle-odds horses that had good showings in the major tune-ups, bet them across, and pretend like I have some inside tip. I know shit about horseracing, but everybody in the state is an expert at the beginning of May by birthright. Wicked Strong, Ride on Curlin, and Danza fit that bill pretty well, but we'll see what I can read in the mint leaves on Saturday.
It's under 10 percent for the regular lines. It's the parlays and quinellas and all that where the big spreads are.
I thought it was higher. I don't know the reliability of the source, but google thinks so, too: They range from a low of 14% to as high as 26% on some wagers at some tracks. http://pregame.com/EN/main/sports-b...Kentucky-Derby/Horse-racing-betting-pool.html
I don't remember the exact numbers, but I'm fairly sure we ran 8 percent on the weekend races for the straight lines with 15 percent on the other bets. Santa Anita is a big track though. It's been almost a decade, so I might be remembering wrong. But I do know the big races have a lower percent take.
Tapiture and Ride On Curlin. Given my recent Derby history, they are likely to be the final two horses to finish.