Winter of Discontent for Horseplayers Does Not Need to Be

The hot talk of horse racing websites and forums is the impending takeout increase at Santa Anita, and horseplayers have to make the decision whether to allow another hand in our not so deep pockets, or support the attempt to organize a boycott.

The takeout at Santa Anita is increasing from 20.68% to 22.68% on exactas and doubles, and to 23.68% on wagers that include three or more runners, like trifectas and superfectas.

The increase will give Santa Anita one of the highest takeouts in the nation among major tracks when it comes to exotic wagering.

The takeout on win, place, and show wagering will remain one of the lowest at 15.43%.

The Horseplayers Association of North America started up a sister site called PlayersBoycott.org, calling for a boycott of the Santa Anta meeting on Dec. 26.

On the boycott web site it states:

“We ask you to consider carefully the idea that every handle dollar spent on California thoroughbred racing is a vote in support of higher takeout and a vote to support the mistaken belief expressed by the CHRB and the TOC that the customer is irrelevant.

You have a choice when it comes to where you spend your money.

Every handle dollar not bet on the California thoroughbred racing product is a vote for change and a vote to send a very clear message to the CHRB and the TOC:

The customer DOES in fact matter.”

With Santa Anita returning to dirt for this upcoming meeting, many horseplayers are going to cross the picket lines, arguing that some other tracks have higher takeout, or they want to support the decision to return to a traditional dirt surface after four years of problematic synthetic surfaces.

Some have said they are win bettors only, and the takeout increase does not affect them.

However, if there were not a decrease in handle, it would be no surprise to see takeout increases in the win pool, as well as other tracks joining the bandwagon and seeking takeout increases in the future.

Whether you feel a boycott is the right thing, there are some problems to consider for the upcoming Santa Anita meeting.

The Santa Anita surface was closed for training on Saturday and Sunday due to rain, limiting the time horses have had to work over the new surface.

Only three horses had official times Monday morning, and there is more rain in the forecast for this week.

After four years of dealing with synthetic surfaces, now horseplayers must deal with the fact that these horses are going to be returning to a traditional dirt surface that nobody knows how it will play.

Handicapping races in which horses will be coming off a variety of synthetic surfaces (as well as some shipping in from dirt surfaces) and racing over a brand new surface will be a challenge.

So what is a horseplayer to do?

For this one, the answer is simple. Even without a takeout hike, I would have tread carefully betting on Santa Anita, and now with a 14% increase in pricing, I am going to look elsewhere this winter, and there are plenty of good options.

Gulfstream Park opens on Jan. 5, and the Hallandale, Fl. track has a few new wrinkles to go along with top class racing.

The highlight for horseplayers may be a new Pick 5 wager, which will offer a 15% takeout and will be a 50-cent wager.

The takeout on Pick 3 and Pick 4 wagering will be 20%. By comparison, the Pick 3 and Pick 4 at Santa Anita will be 23.68%, and at Aqueduct, it is 26%

Gulfstream Park will offer a 10-cent Pick 6. The Pick 6 will be awarded to one unique ticket. On days there are multiple winners, 60% of the pool will be shared equally while 40% goes back into the jackpot.

There will be a 10 cent minimum on superfectas, and a $1 minimum on trifecta wagering.

Gulfstream Park will host 45 stakes, 33 of which are graded, and there will be several key Triple Crown prep races, the Holy Bull (Jan. 30), the Fountain of Youth (Feb. 26), and the Florida Derby (April 3).

Other highlights include the Sunshine Millions on Jan. 29, and a pair of Grade 1 races on Feb. 5, the Donn Handicap and the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap.

Tampa Bay Downs has become a horseplayer friendly track over the past few years, and has seen its handle increase dramatically.

The highlight of the meeting is the Tampa Bay Derby on March 12, which has been upgraded to a Grade 2 and a purse increase to $350,000.

Tampa Bay Downs features large competitive fields and plenty of turf racing.

In addition, the takeout for Pick 3, Pick 4, Super Hi-5 and Pick 6 wagering decreased to 18% from last year’s 19% rate.

Oaklawn Park kicks off its season on Jan. 14, and will feature 32 stakes races including several key Triple Crown prep races.

The Smarty Jones Stakes on Jan. 17, the Southwest Stakes on Feb. 21, and the Rebel Stakes on March 19 are steppingstones to the marquee event of the meeting, the $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 16.

Fair Grounds will offer up plenty of competitive racing between now and their highlight of the meeting, the Louisiana Derby on March 26.

The major prep for the Louisiana Derby is the Risen Star, one of six stakes races on the card on Feb. 19.

In addition, let’s not forget about the frozen tundra of the inner track at Aqueduct.

Who does not like to sit at home, light the fireplace, and bet on the Big A?

Whether or not you support a boycott of California racing, just don’t forget there are plenty of viable alternatives to betting on Santa Anita.