The concept of virtual sporting events and electronic horse racing particularly seems to be growing non-stop.
They can be broadly divided into two categories – firstly the sort of sporting events it is possible to gamble on and secondly the web based sporting activities.
Virtual racing can be experienced at every Uk standard bookies, and also on their web sites. Digital racing is a pretty simple concept, because it’s computer created racing.
There’s none of that waiting around half an hour for every horse race, or problems with the weather they can come around in quick time, you will be guaranteed very good reasonably competitive handicaps and so forth. The electronic horses usually appear to be put out prior to the ” real life” horse racing happens during the daytime.
Electronic horse racing will have its very own trainers, jockeys and form you should check. My personal personal experiences of betting shops has seen people betting on some of these virtual horses, and there is no doubt the graphics are already becoming even better so they are considerably more aesthetically engaging. Judging the form of these races is tough however. On the internet you can find electronic horse and greyhound racing, football and now, virtual motor racing.
These 21st century games are a far cry from the old fashioned gambling options of roulette, video slot machines or the old fashioned one armed bandit slot machine games, or even craps or baccarat.
The other type of digital sports are those which are fan focused instead of just those used as betting fodder. They’re proving to be extremely fashionable as followers of sports get the chance ( for the most part) to manage either a team of soccer players, cricketers or a lot of other sports. Virtual racing applications, where you can train a string of horses and run them are especially fashionable.
As soon as you add in the connection between these gaming titles that is fantasy competitions based upon real soccer or National football league matches, there’s a thousand online worlds for sports fans to get stuck into!
Why horse racing is better than most forms of gambling
Often people think of betting on horse racing as just another form of gambling, but in fact it is quite different from your average casino game. There is this difference – in casino games, you are playing against the house, but in horse racing, you are playing against the other bettors.
In horse racing, there is a certain percentage of every wager you make that the track takes off the top, usually somewhere around 16% for win bets and up to 25% on some of the so called “exotic” bets such as the pick 6. The take goes into operational expenses associated with running a track as well as purse money for the races which it features. Basically all bets of a particular type are led in a particular pool after which the track deducts the take percentage, and the rest is paid out to the winning bettors. This is called pari-mutuel betting. Lotteries are another example of pari-mutuel betting.
Casino games such as black jack or roulette do not take a percentage, but you are always at a disadvantage because the odds are mathematically skewed in their favor in almost all cases. The player can never hope to increase their bankroll in the long term. A concept from probability and statistics called Expected Value, which is a measure of how much a given unit, such as a dollar, is expected to increase or decrease after a particular event, such as the spin of a roulette wheel occurs. If the Expected Value for betting red on a roulette table is -$ .05 for example, that means that for every dollar you wager, you are expected to come out of it with 95 cents. Of course, you will either lose your entire dollar, or you will get an additional dollar back as winnings. Expected Value is just a way to measure the favorability of a bet. It is simply a mathematical way of expressing that you will lose about 5% of your bet every time.
Unlike casino games, if the horseplayer is astute enough to spot winners where others do not, he may have enough of an advantage to actually consistently increase his bankroll. Assuming that the handicapper can consistently find “overlays”, which are horses whose odds are higher than he appears to merit, he can outplay the other bettors and net a positive rate of return. He must be good enough to overcome that track take– it is not good enough to just be “average” or the handicapper will find his bankroll slowly diminishing. If the handicapper takes the time to really study the game well, and can learn to see what others do not, at least he has a chance to turn a profit.
The best reason to play the horses is that the track does not care how much you win; it only cares about the flat percentage it takes off the top for each race that is run. Casinos on the other hand, will ban you from their casino if you start to do really well. A blackjack player has a slight negative edge when playing basic strategy, but if the player counts cards, an edge of up to 2% over the house can be attained. If a player is suspected of counting cards, the casino can at its discretion ban that player from their tables. The track will never ban you no matter how much you win playing the ponies.
Some of the key types of bets you should become familiar with are:
Straight Bets – This terminology is used when betting on a particular horse coming in a specific position, which usually incorporates winning the race, finishing second or placing and/or finishing third, which is popularly known as ‘show’. Some people when making a wager on an individual horse will bet the horse across the board, so if the horse wins, they will be compensated in all three positions – win, place and show.
The Exacta bet is when a person picks both the winner and the second horse to finish in that exact order. For many years Exacta bets were the most popular bets at the racetrack.
Trifecta bets, or more commonly known as ‘triples’, incorporate a player picking, in exact order, the three horses crossing the finish line first.
One of my most favorite bets is the ‘Pick 4’, particularly the one associated with the Southern California Racing Circuit. The Pick 4 is tied to the last four races on the card and in order to win a Pick 4 ticket, you must correctly pick the winners of all four races. Because of the size of the betting pools, the Pick 4 is considered one of the best bets when making wagers on horses.
There are many other types of bets in horse racing. They are all tied to a risk/reward factor. Some bets can pay over a million-to-one while with other bets you’re lucky if their pay-out is even money.
If you want to learn more about horse racing and you haven’t already downloaded Horse Racing Fantasy, the most exciting, interactive, 3D, horse racing game on the Net, I suggest you go to horseracegame.com, register and start playing this free virtual horse racing program. One of the many enjoyable aspects you will find is the ability to fictitiously wager on all types of races and test your betting and handicapping skills. In fact, there are constant betting tournaments where players can win real prizes when competing against each other. This is a free application, is very rewarding and a lot of fun. Whether you’re a novice or a professional race enthusiast, you will enjoy this horse racing program.
Dublin has so much to offer, whether you like to party hard in the many pubs and clubs, to adventure and activity enthusiasts, or maybe you just want to be pampered and take in the many tourist attractions. No matter which option you choose, you won’t be disappointed and you’re guaranteed a hen or stag party not to forget in Dublin’s fair city!
With your wedding day just around the corner and a hen or stag party to organise, look no further; Dublin is the place for every bride or groom to be. Take a well-deserved break from all of those wedding preparations, kick back, let your hair down and party in this exciting and vibrant city.
Here are just a few of suggestions for activities ideal for hen and stag parties in Dublin.
Kart City Limited – Outdoor Go Karting Centre…
Experience the thrill and excitement of Dublin and Ireland’s most popular racing tracks located in Santry, just a short distance from Dublin Airport and easily accessible by public transport from Dublin city centre. This is a fantastic entertainment centre and operates from 10am to 10pm, 7 days a week! Catering for all age groups Kart City has a professional track available. You can also avail of Paintballing and take to the battlefield in camouflage gear, goggles and armed with paintballs you can target your friends and opponents. This is a great activity centre and ideal for hen and stag parties.
Dublin City Hop on Hop off Bus Tour…
This truly is the best way to catch all the sights and tourist attractions in Dublin. Climb aboard this open top double decker bus and take in some of Dublin’s top tourist attractions from The Old Jameson Distillery, Dublin Castle, The Phoenix Park where you will find Dublin Zoo, and many more, and of course the Guinness Storehouse where you can sample some of the black stuff! Tickets are valid all day and you can get on and off as often as you you wish. This tour comes highly recommended and is a great way to familiarise yourself with the city and it’s many attractions.
Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium…
Gone to the dogs! Experience the thrill and excitement of greyhound racing at the Shelbourne Park Stadium. This truly is a venue with a difference, offering luxurious standards with an exciting atmosphere and offering great food and drink. Catering for any birthdays, anniversaries, family occasions, hen & stag parties and social functions of every description.
Fingal Sailing And Windsurfing School…
Battle the ferocious waves and soar in the Dublin skies at Fingal Sailing and Windsurfing School. Located just 5 minutes from the beautiful seaside village of Malahide and easily accessible by public transport from Dublin city you can partake in windsurfing, canoeing, sailing and power boating. With experienced and trained instructors and first class facilities you’re guaranteed a great day out.
Need somewhere to stay in Dublin?
Please note that not all Dublin hotels accept hen and stag parties. So save yourself some time and hassle and check out our list of hotels that accept hens and stags.
Here’s a list of Dublin city hotels in and around the O’Connell Street area:
The Belvedere Hotel, the Best Western Academy Hotel, the Comfort Inn Granby Row, the Castle Hotel, the Gate Hotel, the Abbey Hotel, Jurys Inn Parnell Street and Waltons Hotel.
Dublin city hotels near Temple Bar:
The Harding Hotel, the Leeson Court Hotel, the Camden Delux Hotel, the Kildare Street Hotel and the Comfort Inn Smithfield Hotel.
Several destinations within the UK are unique in their own ways. There are bounteous natural beauty with plenty of facilities and arrangements for leisure activities of fun and excitement. These are not only the making of that perfect party but even give you ultimate choices of weekend destinations for getaways. One such popular name in England is that of Sheffield. This is city located on the banks of the River Sheaf in South Yorkshire.
The city is popular for a wonders and perhaps that is the reason for the famous that groups come to celebrate here.. There are cheap and affordable packages that will take care of all your accommodation and travel arrangements for the weekend. In addition, there are activities and entertainment options that will be a part of the same..
Sheffield weekends are anyway popular among all groups of people who also come here in large numbers for short breaks. There are facilities for exhilarating gaming options like go-kart racing and quad biking. You can also try the force of 4-wheel drive on off road locations. But the one activity that you will never miss out at the city is a game of paintballing with your friends. There is a wide range of theme parks available here that have been arranged and designed for the game. You can enjoy different themes for the parks in which you will get to play with matching gear and all the equipments included within a package.
An exciting nightlife is also a part of . You will have a choice of nightclubs and places for the happening lap dances. This might be a last bonus from your friends and for the last time. There are several pubs that are superbly done up in different themes for their décor and may give you that perfect mood for party. There is also a very elaborate choice of meals that you can enjoy here. You can also enjoy a session of laughter at a comedy club performance. But if you are still game you may find it interesting to take part in a greyhound race held at nights in this city.Several destinations within the UK are unique in their own ways. There are bounteous natural beauty with plenty of facilities and arrangements for leisure activities of fun and excitement. These are not only the making of that perfect party but even give you ultimate choices of weekend destinations for getaways. One such popular name in England is that of Sheffield. This is city located on the banks of the River Sheaf in South Yorkshire.
The city is popular for a wonders and perhaps that is the reason for the famous that groups come to celebrate here.. There are cheap and affordable packages that will take care of all your accommodation and travel arrangements for the weekend. In addition, there are activities and entertainment options that will be a part of the same..
Sheffield weekends are anyway popular among all groups of people who also come here in large numbers for short breaks. There are facilities for exhilarating gaming options like go-kart racing and quad biking. You can also try the force of 4-wheel drive on off road locations. But the one activity that you will never miss out at the city is a game of paintballing with your friends. There is a wide range of theme parks available here that have been arranged and designed for the game. You can enjoy different themes for the parks in which you will get to play with matching gear and all the equipments included within a package.
An exciting nightlife is also a part of . You will have a choice of nightclubs and places for the happening lap dances. This might be a last bonus from your friends and for the last time. There are several pubs that are superbly done up in different themes for their décor and may give you that perfect mood for party. There is also a very elaborate choice of meals that you can enjoy here. You can also enjoy a session of laughter at a comedy club performance. But if you are still game you may find it interesting to take part in a greyhound race held at nights in this city.
Approximately 20 people holding banners and placards congregated outside Yarmouth greyhound track on Saturday 23rd August and handed out leaflets to those entering the stadium.
The purpose of the demonstration was to raise awareness about the plight of greyhounds and the group was calling on the public to boycott racing.
Amongst those participating was Clive Ellis, who said: “In holding such an event over the August Bank Holiday weekend we are hoping to reach both local race goers and holiday makers alike.
“Racing is now being marketed as a fun night for all the family to try and halt the industries demise but as you might expect, the image presented is far removed from the reality of this so called sport.
“For every greyhound that enters racing another will not make the grade and is likely killed. It is the same fate for many dogs that have competed on the track and not all are humanely put-to-sleep by a vet.”
And homing figures, according to Mr Ellis, hide a worrying trend amongst trainers and owners wanting to off-load greyhounds as cheaply and quickly as possible.
“Many greyhounds are now homed independently and given to anyone with little or no regard shown for the future welfare of the animal; a practice in breach of industry rule 18, 1E but ignored.
“Not surprisingly, several are later rescued from homes judged totally unsuitable but not all can be saved as was the case very recently with a very gentle white and black greyhound named Sophie An Mdaddy.
“At just 4 years old the greyhound was taken to the vets by his new owner and PTS because separation anxiety was causing the animal to be unclean in the home.”
The average age for a dog to retire from racing at Yarmouth is just 3 years, 5 months and the average number of races completed is 48.
Due to injury, however, many greyhounds will see far fewer races and safety at Yarmouth has been a contentious issue for many years with trainers describing the track as both “diabolical” and an “absolute tip.”
An inconsistent surface (said to be due to grading and drainage) and the inside rail are given as reasons for an alarming number of injuries and fatalities.
Mr Ellis, however, pointed to the character of greyhound tracks – with fast straights leading into tight bends – as the primary reason for a very high rate of injuries that can be found at all stadiums.
And added: “In all aspects of welfare the industry has failed dismally and for that reason we are calling for the abolition of racing.
“On Saturday evening we got a very positive response from many race goers and at least 6 people decided to leave after reading our leaflets.”
The Perfect Solution to Horse Racing’s Future and How to Make Horse Races 100% Honest
I recently read about the early days of greyhound racing in the United States and how monkeys were once used as jockeys on the greyhounds. Because many people think that human jockeys hold back horses and lose races on purpose, it might be a good idea to consider another kind of jockey other than the human ones who now ride thoroughbreds.
I considered monkeys first, but it seems the little guys and girls would be too small to control a 1,000 pound thoroughbred under a full head of steam. Next I considered larger animals, but it would have to be an animal that could stay in the saddle and hold the reins in some way. As far as the whip goes, that is optional. It is said the monkeys used to use their tails to whip the greyhounds. They also used to try to hold back other greyhounds who were passing them. Apparently monkeys aren’t very good sports, something I have long suspected.
I considered dogs, but then I remembered the picture of the dogs playing poker.
You know the one I mean, they are sitting around a poker table, smoking and playing cards. It is obvious that they are cheating and I am thinking that if they cheat at cards what would they do in a horse race?
I tried to think of an animal that would be able to put its feet in the stirrups and hold the reins. Of course, the first thing I cam up with was chimpanzees. Considering some of the cruel insults I have seen thrown at jockeys after a race, especially one with some dubious performances, it might be more appropriate to have chimps in the irons. Then when a fan shouts, “You ride like an old lady you little monkey!” There would be no question of what he or she meant.
Chimps, however, can be dangerous, they have been known to attack humans and I am also not sure how they would treat a horse, so perhaps there is another animal better suited to ride in races. Bears obviously are out, after all, they might eat their mounts.
Of course, the animal rights advocates would be up in arms if animals were riding animals, too. So just what is the perfect solution? Since we don’t seem to be able to satisfy everyone and humans are always going to race and bet on races, it seems the sensible solution is people riding people.
Why not have human jockeys and human runners. While the animal rights folks wouldn’t mind seeing humans whipped, since they consider us lower than the animals, perhaps somewhere on the vegetable level, they wouldn’t mind seeing a 100 pound man or woman being carried piggy back on a great big lumbering man or woman.
Imagine the thrill of seeing big, fast, strong men or women carrying a shouting jockey who is whipping and cursing and sweating down the stretch! Of course, then if a favorite lost the crowd would not only cry foul at the jockey, but at the runner as well. How would we know if they were in cahoots or if just one of them was a cheat? What kind of finger pointing and excuses would we find after the race. Instead of just interviewing the winning jockey, owner, trainer, the reporters could actually get it straight from the horses, oops, I mean runner’s mouth.
There would always be the possibility, however, that this would be detrimental to human evolution. Instead of just allowing people to breed as they will, and I think you know what I mean, selective breeding would start taking place. Within a few generations some great retired runners would be making millions in the stud shed, while others were simply put out to pasture.
The public would complain that they were breeding the brains out of the poor runners and their ankles and bones were too fragile to carry their magnificent muscled body. Would excessive whipping finally be banned? Perhaps if the riders and runners were teams of husbands and wives it would have to be, though some would say it should perhaps be encouraged? Makes you think doesn’t it? Maybe, just for now, we should stick with things the way they are.
Should I Use a System to Make More Money at the Dog Track?
Do you remember the first time you went to the greyhound track? It was pretty overwhelming, trying to pick winners with all the noise and confusion dog tracks have. But somehow you managed to figure out enough to make you want to go back.
After a while, you probably started to understand the terms the program uses and maybe you got a clue about how to pick dogs. Maybe you even started to develop a system of choosing winners that works for you. If so, you don’t need this article.
But if you’re still floundering with handicapping, having trouble knowing which factors matter when it comes to finding winning dogs, maybe you need to rethink your strategy. Or maybe you need to get a strategy.
Hard as it is to believe, many people who go to the dog track don’t have any idea what they’ll bet until just before the race. Even though the programs are available online before the races – sometimes many days before the races – most people wait until the last minute to make their choices.
This is why so many people lose money at the track.
If you’re one of them, here’s a chance to change your ways and start making money instead of losing it. You need a system, either your own or someone else’s. You need to use it consistently, keep track of it on paper first, and then keep records as you make money with it.
I started out the same way most people do at the track. I bet on impulse, picked dogs because I thought they looked good before the race and lost money. It wasn’t until I switched to using systems that I started making money.
Systems are developed over decades of trips to the track, watching dogs and talking to other handicappers and dog owners and trainers. Taking advantage of someone else’s expertise is a very good shortcut to success in any field. Think of the golfers, chess players and other sportsmen who use other peoples’ systems to win and further their careers.
When you find a system that works for you, you can tweak it and refine it and make it even better. There’s no reason to stop improving something that works in order to make it work better. So if you keep betting on impulse without a system or method, don’t be surprised if you’re one of the 90% who loses. In order to join the 10% who win, find a system that works and use.
Greyhound Handicapping – Why Would Anyone Sell a System That Makes Them Money?
One of the questions I get asked over and over again is this: If your systems make money, why would you want to sell them? Good question, and in this article, I give you my answer. Money is a wonderful thing, but it’s not everything.
I love to pick winning dogs. There’s nothing I like to do more than get a fresh program, a pen and a cup of coffee, first thing in the morning. For a few minutes, life is perfect, as I try to figure out whether the speed dogs will have an advantage today at this track, or whether the track bias will give the closers an edge. I use my systems and I usually do pretty well.
It’s not automatic. I have to use the basics of handicapping and I’m not always right. Sometimes, I miss such obvious things that I could whack myself with the program. Other times, most times, I see things that help me find at least a few spot plays that pay well or a young pup that runs better than it looks like it will.
I don’t make millions a year.
I don’t even make thousands a year from handicapping, although there were a few years when it paid for a car and for a down payment on a new house. My kids got some extra music lessons too and we took some vacations that my day job wouldn’t have covered. Over the years, as I got better at picking winners, I got less rabid about making money and more interested in the puzzle part of handicapping.
I’ve always been really curious and I’ve always loved solving puzzles and that’s what greyhound handicapping is to me. I’d do it even if there was no payoff. Sometimes, I get so wrapped up in going over the program that I miss a race I was going to play and a big payoff. It’s kind of a running joke between me and the group that I hang out with when I go to the track.
If I had given up my family time, my job and the rest of my life, I probably could have made a living from betting the dogs. But that’s not something I was willing to do. I’d rather go now and then, especially as I’ve gotten older, than sacrifice my family relationships and my other interests to chasing money at the track.
That’s one of the reasons I started selling greyhound handicapping systems. I love coming up with them, trying them out and watching them pick winners. I use them, but not every day and not at every track, so why not let other people benefit from them and make a part time living at it? Why keep knowledge to myself when other people can use it, build on it and do well with it too?
I don’t know why other people sell their knowledge, but I know why I sell mine. I don’t lose a penny from sharing it, because it’s still mine to use too. Maybe I’m a chump, but I’m content to write articles for a living, rather than use hype to do what I do. So, I guess the rest of the answer to the question posed in the title is that it’s a little bit of an ego boost for me to know that so many people are using my handicapping systems to win at the dog track.
J.P. McManus, is one of the most prestigious race-horse owners in the world and has on many occasions been termed the ‘patron saint of gambling’. High praise indeed. But what has this man done to make himself so famous?
John Patrick McManus was born in Limerick, Ireland in March 1951, and he started off in business in his families plant hire firm, before moving on to become an on-course bookmaker at Market’s Field, Limericks greyhound track. He quickly realised that there is more money to be made at the other side of the track and moved on to horse ownership, punting and laying horses. He has become famous for the size of the bets that he places, most of which are successful and he has become something of an enigma in the gambling world, with a well-deserved legend status.
It is not known exactly how much McManus is worth, but he owns approximately 100 in-training racehorses at one time, and is speculated to be a billionaire. He is friends with the stars and could buy whatever he dreamed of, yet it is not this huge wealth that makes McManus so idolised. It is his love of a bet that enamours him to so many ? he went broke not once but twice and he absolutely loves taking the bookies to the cleaners.
This along with his sheer ordinariness and good heart is what sets J.P. McManus apart from the rest of the wealthy billionaires we love to loathe! When Ireland needed a new sports facility he donated £50 million towards the National Stadium, and he established the J.P. McManus Scholarship Award which provides ?6,750 each year for eight selected third level students at his former secondary school in Limerick. In February 2007, McManus was presented with the Honorary Patronage of the University Philosophical Society of Trinity College Dublin, in return for his charitable contributions. He also holds the J.P. McManus Invitational Charity Golf tournament every five years, near Limerick, where players of huge renown come along to play, all to raise money for Limerick charities. All ‘the boys’ that he hangs out with – Magnier and Dermot Desmond from Ireland, and Joe Lewis and Michael Tabor from England, attend as well as elite European businessmen and some celebrities, for example Sir Alex Ferguson. ‘The boys’ mix business and pleasure, currency speculating, share trading and making property deals, while Sir Alex is a friend through the massive investment McManus made in Manchester United.
McManus is a big national hunt supporter and he nearly always has more than one horse racing in the Grand National. He has his own stud farm, Martinstown Stud, near Kilmallock, County Limerick and owns excellent horses ? his most celebrated horse, Istabraq, won the Champion Hurdle three years in a row at the Cheltenham festival, but one of his horses has yet to win the Grand National at Aintree ? hopefully 2010 will be his year!
What is the single worst thing about Greyhound racing? A short time spent at http://www.greyhoundmuses.com will probably provide you with several answers to that question. From the squalid, inhumane conditions that some Greyhounds are forced to endure throughout their curtailed lifetime on the track, to the way that their life is ended when they are no longer of any use to their uncaring owners, usually when they are just four or five years old.
To me one of the worst things however is the massive over breeding that goes on to produce the “high quality stock” needed for the racetracks each year. What kind of a phrase is that? High quality stock? But that is just the way these poor unfortunate dogs are seen by those whose only interest in them is as a money making machine. In order to produce the relatively few top racers required, many thousands are bred on terrible puppy farms and other intensive breeding locations. Probably 90 out of 100 of the little souls born will not be good enough to be a top class racer, and if you have perused other pages of this site you will already know what will happen to them. The purpose of this page is not to go over what is adequately covered elsewhere, but to point out the way in which beautiful, living beings are mass produced in great numbers to satisfy the selfish desires of a few greedy men.
How do they get away with it? Imagine the outcry if some other breed of dog was being exploited in this way. If thousands of Labradors or thousands of Poodles were produced every year just so that a few lucky ones could become a pampered pet for someone, and the rest were then disposed of in some vague way that no one really knew much about, they just somehow disappeared without too many questions being asked. Wouldn’t there be a great fuss raised about such goings on? Yet this is what is happening all the time with Greyhounds. Thousands bred to produce the few wanted for the tracks, and even those few are not destined to be pets as with other breeds, but to earn their meagre existence until they are no longer economical to keep alive and are subsequently discarded in favour of next years model.
If you care about Greyhounds, and I’m sure you do or you wouldn’t be reading this, then please write to your MP and ask him to stop subsidies for farmers for dog breeding. If a farm is not running economically the government sometimes offers subsidies to the farmer to use the land to breed Greyhounds. Please point out to your MP the cruelty inherent in this practice and ask that it be discontinued. Also, please tell all your friends about the over breeding of Greyhounds and ask them how they would like it if it was their favourite breed that was being exploited in this way. Most importantly of all, never go to a Greyhound race or bet on one at a betting shop, and please ask all your friends not to do so either. Please do something. However small a thing it is, it will be better than doing nothing.
