I will start by saying there are two things I always do leading up to the big day.
1. Watch "Let it Ride" with Richard Dreyfuss. **** funny horse betting movie that always makes me laugh. If you've never seen it- you're in for a treat. Check out Jennifer Tilly too!
2. Watch this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX37FbFjqrI
I start everything with a laugh BECAUSE I've taken so many bad beats at the track over the years, if i didn't laugh, I'd be crying. And I'll share one of my worst beats with you.
About 10 years ago, I was doing some internet wagering and was following Delaware Park one day. It was the last race of day and a weather front was moving in and Delaware Park was hurrying to get the last race in before the weather exploded. I had had a good day so far, up a few hundred and spent around $60 on a superfecta, putting a bunch of long shots up top on and in the ticket.
The race goes off, and sure enough, I hit it with some very long odds horses. The superfecta pool wasn't great, but I was sure there couldn't have been more than 2-3 live tickets (if that) in the end- I was looking for a $4000-$5000 payout, or at least hoping. I think the winners odds were around 22-1, then a 7-1 for Place, 18-1 for Show and around 10-1 for 4th. We also beat a heavy 6/5 favorite who was off the ticket, among others.
So I'm waiting for the prices to be posted, the storm rolls in and a bolt of lightning hits the tote board, and knocks the power out at the track. Emergency lights come on but the track is dark.......and I'm waiting and waiting and waiting.
About 25+ minutes later, an announcement is made- "The race is cancelled, and all bets will be refunded". WTF!!!
So I won the race, was looking at a great payout........and got screwed. I've lost tens of thousands of dollars over the years by mere inches- but this one was probably the worst beat ever as I had won the race and never got paid.
Of course it was Delaware Park! I used to go there alot and each time within 5 minutes of sitting down in the stands, I would say "What the hell am I doing here??!!!" Not the greatest track around that's for sure.
My worst beat - 2011 Kentucky Derby.
I worked my butt off on that race and I was 101% sure of I'll Have Another and Bodemeister as the top two in that race. I have never bet a super in the Derby where I just boxed my top two in the top 2 positions. I figured if I did that then I could load up underneath. Loved Dullahan and Creative Cause for my top 2 bottom spots. So I boxed them underneath and threw in a few extras in the 4th spot. I placed the $2 super bet and it was so cheap so I placed another super bet using the same guys in the 4 spots but added a few different ones to the very bottom just in case. I pretty much had that 4th spot covered less a few horses.
Well, the order of Finish came with I'll Have Another, Bodemeister, Dullahan, WENT THE DAY WELL and Creative Cause came in 5th. Went the Day Well beat out Creative Cause for the 4th spot by 1/2 length. Of course, I used just about every horse in the 4th spot between the 2 tickets with the exception of Trinniberg, Sabercat, Daddy Nose Best and WENT THE DAY WELL!! Why???!!! That superfecta paid over $95,000 for a 2 dollar bet. I will never forget that Derby, as it haunts me to this very day. What the hell was I thinking???? I left Graham Motion off of my ticket???!!! What a dunce! LOL!!
I seem to remember the bad beats much more often than my good days of racing for some reason..........LOL