Keeneland?

[todko]

Originally Posted by pmayjr

Awesome info Todko. The Keeneland contest you're talking about is the one they do at the end of July right? I was thinking about doin that one, but $$$ was a little tight so I passed.

The one they do the first weekend in December is top notch. It was very tough last year. I was a neck away from a top-10 finish (I had a longshot in one of the final contest-eligable races that finished 2nd by a neck)... but the very first contest-eligable race that day, R1 at Calder, a big longshot won the race. Longshots were hittin all day and people in that contest were nailin 'em.

I remember in Keeneland's December contest last year, that they announced that there were spots available for the Turfway contest the next day. My question about Turfway's contest- do they assign the races you bet on, or do they let you choose the ones you bet on like they do at Keeneland?

As for the tote-board sytem to see who's the leader, Canterbury does that too. But the difference is, that Canterbury gives you a wagering card and you put $$$ into the card. And it keeps the results for you. It's not that paper-punch thing you were talkin about.

Keeneland in July had a mix of mandatory races and optional races. Turfway does the same thing. If I remember, last year at Turfway they had 6 mandatory races from the Turfway card and 6 optionals that you could choose from the cards at Calder, Fairgrounds (at that time playing at Louisiana Downs), Aqueduct, and the remainder of the Turfway card.

A lot of players who fly in for the Keeneland contest sign-up for Turfway also as it's only about 80 miles from Keeneland. I only play one or the other, usually Turfway. To handicap two contests on a weekend is a lot of work. Last year, my friend flew in from Vancouver and cashed in both of the contests.

Turfway is committed to improving their contest. Last year they used paper cards with a player number on it. The contest clerks used a paper punch and manually entered the player number and selection into the tote system. Keeneland now uses the hard plastic card and clerk just swipes it (Churchill does it the same way).

I live about 45 minutes north of Turfway (on the Ohio side). Things are improving there -- the polytrack is much better this year with the latest big revisions.

I see you're in Minnesota. I was born in Duluth. Never have been to Canterbury. Some day.