Balmoral Park (12/4/12)
Contact: Tom Kelley
(708) 672-1414
BALMORAL PAYOUTS AND POOL SIZE A BIG REASON FOR BIG HANDLE
By Michael Antoniades, Chicago Racing Analyst
Available on the web at oddsonracing.com
If the first week of December is any indication, Balmoral Park will cap off a stellar 2012 season with sizable gains in business. Handle for the opening weekend of December was robust. The Saturday, December 1 handle of $1,380,892 was $128,107 higher than 2011 and the Sunday, December 2 program handled $1,135,362 versus $954,770 last year, an increase of $180,592. The combined two-day weekend handle of $2,516,254 for 24 races was an average of $104,843 per race.
Balmoral payouts and pool sizes are a big reason for that success. Several win pools surpassed $22,000 and the exotic pools were large enough for people to play big numbers. Exacta pools averaged $24,727 and trifecta pools averaged $29,313. The ten cent wagers were extremely popular this weekend as well. Ten cent superfecta pools averaged $21,926 and the ten cent High Five pool averaged $22,446. The average High Five payout in 2012 is $1,018 for a dime.
Multi-race pools continue to attract big players to the big track. The average Pick Five pool in 2012 is $17,267. The Balmoral Pick Five is a 50 cent minimum wager which allows the player more coverage. The average fifty cent payout this year is $2,517.
The Pick Four continues to do record business thanks to the USTA Strategic Wagering initiative, free program pages courtesy of Track Master and a low 15 percent takeout. Over $4,500,000 has been wagered on 143 Pick Fours in 2012, an average nightly pool of $31,694. The average one dollar payout this year is $2,376.35.
Free program pages are available every night at www.ustrotting.com. My complimentary selections and racing news are available at www.oddsonracing.com. Michael’s plays have been on a roll as we go into the Wednesday December 5 card off six consecutive winning days at Balmoral. Our last losing day was on November 18.
During that six-day winning streak, I have been fortunate enough to select 21 winners out of 69 selections, with only five of those winners going off as the favorite. Those 21 winners returned $221.80 on a $2 win bet minus the investment of $138 for 69 races, a net profit of $83.80 and an ROI of over 60 percent. My average winner returned $10.56. As all gamblers know streaks with 60 percent ROI don’t last but we certainly will make the most of it while they do.
MICHAEL’S PLAYS SIX DAY STREAK 69 PLAYS 21 WINNERS $138.00 INVESTED $221.80 RETURNED
NOVEMBER 21 12 PLAYS 4 WINNERS
$24.00 INVESTED RETURN $63.00
RACE 1 TUFF LONGPORT $ 3.20
RACE 4 FOXT THREE SOCKS $ 15.20
RACE 6 BENNS SCORE KEEPER $ 19.00
RACE 9 SHE’SABADBELLE $ 25.60
NOVEMBER 24 13 PLAYS 4 WINNERS
$26.00 INVESTED $49.40 RETURN
RACE 5 ONE LAST CHANCE $ 21.60
RACE 7 TAFFY TOWNE $ 11.80
RACE 8 DODGER $ 7.60
RACE 12 BELL VELLEY BILL $ 8.80
NOVEMBER 25 10 PLAYS 3 WINNERS
$20.00 INVESTED $29.00 RETURN
RACE 7 JUST BY DESIGN $ 8.20
RACE 9 MAKENA CAT $ 4.20
RACE 10 AMARETTO ROSE $ 16.40
NOVEMBER 28 10 PLAYS 3 WINNERS
$20.00 INVESTED $23.20 RETURN
RACE 1 KK BANDIT $ 11.00
RACE 4 JD’S ECHO $ 7.40
RACE 9 PHOBIC PRINCESS $ 5.20
DECEMBER 1 13 PLAYS 3 WINNERS
$26.00 INVESTED $27.00 RETURN
RACE 2 WHISTLE PIG $ 7.60
RACE 10 BELL VALLEY BILL $ 8.80
RACE 13 OLIVER BROWN $ 10.60
DECEMBER 2 11 PLAYS 4 WINNERS
$22.00 INVESTED $30.20 RETURN
RACE 2 SEEKIN FOR GLAMOUR $ 6.40
RACE 4 KATE THE GREAT $ 3.20
RACE 7 JO JO SPUR $ 5.00
RACE 8 SO IDEAL $ 15.60
Free program pages are available at the USTA handicapping section.
My selections and harness racing news are available at oddsonracing.com.
For more information visit www.balmoralpark.com or call (708) 672-1414.
About Balmoral Park: Located in Crete, IL just 12 miles south of 80/94; Balmoral Park has been one of the nation's premier horse racing facilities since 1926. Balmoral Park features live racing every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission and parking is always free.
