Speaking of fixed races....

[Lucy11]

Hawthorne
Jose Ferrer suspended at Hawthorne
By MARCUS HERSH
DAILY RACING FORM

CHICAGO - Jose Ferrer, the second-leading jockey at the current Hawthorne meet, has been suspended 30 days by Hawthorne stewards, who allege Ferrer failed to do his best to win the fifth race Saturday while riding Burke's Legend.
Ferrer took off his mounts Sunday, though the suspension does not take effect until Friday, Oct. 27. Oscar Sanchez, Ferrer's agent, said Ferrer proclaimed his innocence and would appeal the ruling as soon as possible.

"He didn't do anything wrong," Sanchez said.

Stewards saw things differently, taking swift action less than 24 hours after the race in question. Burke's Legend, trained by Jerry Gryczewski, was the tepid 5-2 favorite in a $4,000 claiming race. He broke in front under Ferrer, raced in second most of the backstretch and around the turn and still was in contention while racing between horses into the stretch. Ferrer appears to pull on the reins at about the three-sixteenths pole while looking to his outside, as Cleaning House, the 3-1 second choice, swept past with a wide run on his way to an easy victory. Burke's Legend would wind up a close third behind 7-2 shot Bull'o the Woods.

Chief steward Eddie Arroyo said authorities were "still investigating" any sign of irregular betting patterns.

The stewards ruling cited Ferrer for violating a statute that says: "Every horse in every race must be ridden so as to finish as near as possible to first and show the best and fastest race it is capable of at that time."

Arroyo said the 30-day suspension was discretionary. "We could have given him more, we could have given him less," he said.

 

[peddler1]

This is one of the cheap races that I recommend not betting do to the fact that there seems to be higher chance of cheating.
As I mentioned previously I prefer the standerdbreds. Why would top trainer and drivers own or claim $3,000 and $5,000 claimers for themselves. ??:shrug:

 

[Lucy11]

If you see value in these types of races why wouldn't you bet it? I don't disagree that races are fixed, but you can't be scared to pull the trigger. A 20-1 winner pays the same whether its low level claiming or a G1 race. Remember that idiot who got caught cheating on Valhol?

 

[Axle]

Here's my quick $.02......I do not believe there is as much cheating as some players believe.

Maybe back in the "old days" when there was not as much oversight, and no internet for punters like us to talk about races, then probably yes there was some fixing going on; however, I believe that in this day and age, it is much more difficult for cheaters to fix a race. I am not saying it does not occur, we read about them occasionally, but it is not prevelant.

In cases of cheating in the lower rung of the claiming levels...what do you really expect? They are running at those price levels for a reason, usually they are infirm, or simply do not have any talent. These type of horses are not consistent; thus, giving the impression of fixed races, more so when you have money riding on them.

I usually do not pay the really cheap tracks, unless there is nothing else at all running...yep, I'm a degenerate gambler...:mj07:

 

[peddler1]

Here's my quick $.02......I do not believe there is as much cheating as some players believe.

Maybe back in the "old days" when there was not as much oversight, and no internet for punters like us to talk about races, then probably yes there was some fixing going on; however, I believe that in this day and age, it is much more difficult for cheaters to fix a race. I am not saying it does not occur, we read about them occasionally, but it is not prevelant.

In harness racing the USTA has cracked down alot more. It is still very easy to break the stride of a horse and make it look good. Also it is very easy to get a horse parked in or out. At times it is just do to the fact of a horse or driver having no talent.

 

[peddler1]

If you see value in these types of races why wouldn't you bet it? I don't disagree that races are fixed, but you can't be scared to pull the trigger. A 20-1 winner pays the same whether its low level claiming or a G1 race. Remember that idiot who got caught cheating on Valhol?

If you see value you should bet the race. That is why I use a money management system that I use in conjunction with the odds. If it is a cheap race I use 3/1 or higher before I bet the race.
When I have went back and done my research on my handicapping for betting at the Meadows as well as Northfield if I only bet on my best horse to win at odds of 3/1 or higher I have a ROI of 154%
At all odds in the past year for both tracks in the cheap races I have a ROI of 46%.
This is a archive article from Bob Pandolfo who does the picks at the Meadowlands and writes articles on Handicapping for the USTA there website.
http://www.ustrotting.com/handicapping/pandolfo/pandy_archives.cfm

 

[Axle]

In harness racing the USTA has cracked down alot more. It is still very easy to break the stride of a horse and make it look good. Also it is very easy to get a horse parked in or out. At times it is just do to the fact of a horse or driver having no talent.

I really do not have much knowledge about harness racing. I once upon a time did read an article about betting on harness racing. I only remember it saying to watch the top trainers and the top drivers (if that's what they are called). That in this sport those top guys do win, or at least show, the majority of the time...that is the extent of my harness knowledge.

 

[Lucy11]

I'd say in harness bet the top trainer and driver. Another example was at the Meadowlands recently. I forget the name, maybe Ledard, got caught juicing a lot of horses. They are banned new. I really cannot stand harness racing. I live right down the road from Pocono Downs and the racing is so poor (not as bad as Plainridge).

 

[Axle]

I did get a big laugh regarding harness racing in Rodney Dangerfield's movie "Easy Money." Where his sidekick, the Joe Pesci character, saw the driver dragging his feet and pulling back on the reins strangling the horse to lose the race, then the Pesci character jumping over the rail and going after the driver to try to kick his ass....:142smilie

I have felt like doing that to a jockey now and then....:mj07:

 

[Lucy11]

I read in the New York Post today that Carlos Bautista, a jockey at Fairplex, got caught with a buzzer during the warmuo for a race on 9-24-06. His mount was Royal Medallion. His mount finished 3rd during the race and he wasn't accused of using the buzzer during the race. He was suspended for a year yesterday.
:shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :sadwave: :sadwave: