Call me what you will, but I just can't imagine watching or playing football without having sidelines. Can you? What a mess that would be. How about basketball without sidelines? That would essentially reduce the game to something we're all familiar with. An exhibition between the Harlem Globetrotters and the Washington Generals. Though entertaining at times it means nothing.
From what I understand horseplayers are apparently requesting contests to use this type of format. I'm not sure why? I haven't actually found someone that prefers it, but I have no doubt they're out there somewhere. If you know, please help me understand.
Probably the biggest knock against Handicapping Contests is the element of luck that is involved. First of all, let me say that although I do believe luck is part of the game, you have to be good enough to put yourself in the position to get lucky. If you’re down and are in need of at least a 12-1 shot and there are only two in the race you know you have to take one. So, flip a coin or do whatever you have to do to come up with one you "need." Maybe you're actually fortunate enough to have an opinion and like one of the bombs. Great! At the end of the day it doesn't matter if you would never bet a single dollar of a stranger's money, let alone your own money, on the horse. You gotta do what you gotta do and if the horse wins, congratulations! Nice work. You may have just gotten lucky. The key is you put yourself in the position to get lucky, and simply put, you understand the game. See my previous post called "Scoreboard... Scoreboard!" for more on that.
Personally I would prefer to compete against 10,000 people in an all mandatory event versus a free-for-all against 100 people. Again, call me what you will, but it is absolutely impossible to handicap or even look at over 150 races for a single day. I'm not just showing up and trying to find something the day of either. I'm working for at least two days prior or as soon as past performances are available. There needs to be some kind of boundaries set.
Don't get it twisted. I do enjoy playing in contests that are all optional and/or contests that split mandatory and optional races. The difference is these contests I speak of have boundaries (i.e. Arlington Park, Royal River Racing). They're limited to somewhere in the neighborhood of four tracks. I believe the maximum tracks that should be allowed are five. Even at 10 races per track we're looking at 50 races. Though still difficult, it is a much more manageable amount of races to handicap/look over. At this point everyone in the room at least has the opportunity. Nothing like looking at the one clown in the room that picked a 35-1 shot drawing away in the stretch at a track you didn't even know was open let alone a race you didn't even look at. I'm no John Stossel, but give me a break!
In addition, the atmosphere of these free-for-alls leaves much to be desired. Get 200 of your closest friends together competing on the same field, a.k.a. a contest with boundaries, and there's nothing like it! It's our, a regular Joe's/Jane's, chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth and there are actually others involved. What more can you ask for? Bring it on!
I'll go head-to-head with anyone willing. Let's just at least be in the same county. Unfortunately (or fortunately), you won't be seeing me at Keeneland this year. I've attended just about every contest they've had over the last four or five years and I've even qualified there twice. It's just gotten out of control, and unless they choose to change the rules I'm out. All you can really ask yourself is, "are you giving yourself the best chance to succeed?" For me, as far as free-for-alls go I'm definitely not. They may be your thing, and that's okay. They're just not mine. So, I'll choose to invest elsewhere.
Related Links:
DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship
Horseplayer World Series
