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[intense_lead]So at 70+ years of age, Capital OTB invites me to participate in their 2019 Summer Series of Podcasts posted to the new CapitalOTB.com website. [/intense_lead] [intense_blockquote border_color="#231273" author="Tom Amello"]Podcast! What’s that? Oh, internet radio without radio. Whatta country, as Yakov Smirnoff would say. [/intense_blockquote] [intense_dropcap]T[/intense_dropcap]he first podcast included a discussion of applying the odds board to your handicapping, featuring statistics to support strategies. The next two have been conversations with professionals in Thoroughbred racing. Jim Mazur, of trainer statistic book fame, joined us to talk about the game in general and his statistical approach to pilfering the pari-mutuel pools. Our most recent edition featured my good friend…

[intense_lead] Pre-Saratoga meet talk of the region has been about the early July opening and switch to Monday and Tuesday dark days. [/intense_lead] [intense_dropcap]W[/intense_dropcap]hen asked my opinion on the matter, I feel it was a no lose situation for NYRA: trading six Monday cards for a Thursday opening plus a weekend was a no brainer. How the economics of the region might be affected is fodder for another day. With those four days in the books, NYRA announced a significant increase in both attendance and handle by comparing the new four days of business to business on the first four Monday cards of the 2018 meet which will…

The Thoroughbred racing industry put its troubles and travails aside yesterday to celebrate “another opening” of another NYRA show at historic Saratoga Race Course. And from all accounts it was everything a Saratoga opening is about. Lines formed in the wee morning hours, local TV did perfunctory live interviews of well-prepared patrons sipping coffee, resting in lawn chairs, re-connecting with other “openers”, each waiting patiently for NYRA Peace Officers to signal the sprint to the picnic tables. “We’re Baaack.” The racing was good. The few stretch battles to the wire momentarily energized the crowd only to be followed by the muted silence of non-winners lost in the shouts…