THE UPS & DOWNS OF BETTING HANDLE

Being a bit of a betting and gambling geek, a hobby of mine is looking at the factors that drive pari-mutuel wagering. It's a fascinating exercise because there are so many items that go into the make-up of a gross betting pool. Sure we know the basics, like the lower the takeout the higher the [...]

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IT'S THE HANDLE. IT'S ALWAYS THE HANDLE.

In September of 2010, a round of applause broke out at a meeting of the California Horse Racing Board. A call from the Governor's office came in, informing the California racing braintrust that the takeout increase they asked for earlier that summer had been approved. Everyone seemed happy. [...]

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