I can do a lot more.... faster, with a little help.

I guarantee that you will get the best end of the deal too. There have been so many changes in horse racing information lately, that sometimes I feel like the most influential person in the business. I'm just one guy, with some ideas and good information. Hell, I'm not even in the information "club", or paid for my consultations. But, as a modern horse racing fan, you are surrounded by my ideas, and responses to my attempts to market better information for the player. We could do a lot more together.

There wasn't a lot of horse racing twittering going on when I started tweeting with TrackSideEye in the spring of 2009. But, by the time I got done with the Saratoga meeting of 2009 on TrackSideEyeSAR, all the race tracks were on the band wagon. Churchill Downs added to their Twitter feeds and changed the video coverage from Spring 2009 to Fall 2009. Why, because I tweeted a $47.00 winner from a post parade in the Spring. For Fall, the video cut to will pays while Mark Johnson was trying to give physicality reports on audio and Twitter.

Today, Jeremy Plonk does a poor job attempting to mimic TrackSideEye during Keeneland's live racing chat. Jeremy and his newspaper selling colleagues operate Night School. A lame attempt at another idea that I took to Keeneland in Fall 2008. I suggested that they put winners in people's hands, and teach people how to play the game. They perverted the idea into a handicapping school, failing to understand that people don't want to handicap, they want to win, playing horses. It's a game.

Anyway, if it weren't for me threatening the publishing empire with better information that regular people can use, I doubt that they'd be trying to do anything. I don't think Brisnet would be giving any discounts either. But, they are, for some reason. Even the DRF is trying to make it seem like their fish-wrapper is worth $7 a copy by going into the wagering business. And, someone has the HorsePlayers Association of North America slamming my Ebooks and my ratings on http://paceadvantage.com/. A well-known hive of shills and sycophants in the guise of a horse racing forum. None of them want anybody to have my information.

Although they all follow it quite closely, on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/HorsePlayerU, and http://Twitter.com/TrackSideEye. On Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ability-X-Ratings/332751969535 , and the website http://horseplayeru.com/. In the attempt to squeeze handicapping into the box of what you want. Never realizing that handicapping is not what you want, you want to enjoy, understand, and win a game/sport, without having to do a lot of work to do so.

Seems like I have caused quite a stir, for just one guy, on the outside, that has consistent and accurate information. There is a lot more to do, and we could do it all very well, if, we did it together. I know that together we have many different ideas of what horse racing needs most, in order to make a come back. But, I believe that the best way to put all of those ideas into motion, is to start gathering players and fans together, into a single group.

All bound together by everything that we have in common, instead of standing separate from each other, debating which issue is most important. All of the issues are important, the whole of horse racing won't come back together without each and every piece in place. So, it is now agreement on a starting point that separates us. I'd like to offer an idea for a starting point that perhaps we can all agree on, because there is progress for each single one, in doing this one single thing. Unite.

If we unite, there is not one single thing needing change, that could go unchanged. Think about it, as a single body, we are not only a force as consumers and fans of a sport, with the internet, there is nothing to stop us from being the doers that make things happen. I've gotten some things changed, by demonstrating what could be, as best as one person can. Together, we can make some great demonstrations of how many things could be better.

Even racing executives will listen, and move if you surround them with better ideas, at the right volume, and frequency. I've demonstrated that, and I am just one guy, with good information and good ideas. The industry has gone into motion to keep it away from you like the Strategic Air Command on a DEFCON 4 alert.

It will be realitively easy for 3900 of us to find the right volume and frequency, once we are united. So, let's unite on common ground, we are all fans/players of the game. We can all use good information on horse racing, and we can all offer good information on horse racing to others. Let's start by uniting in that purpose, for that purpose. As players/fans of the game we all use past performance information.

In Ability-X Ratings, I offer the simplest, lowest-priced, most effective past performance information in the industry. The proof hits the board everyday, at racetracks all over North America.

Another proof is that no information supplier in the industry wants you to have it, because it is not handicapping, and it is more effective, for you, than handicapping. If you had Ability-X Ratings, you would be able to win on a regular basis, instead of losing, with all of the industry's "expert" opinions, and various publications. As consumers, we can change that starting tomorrow.

Then, we can use all the social media available to us, to be the new media of horse racing in order to reach out to two generations that have walked away from our sport. To show them how to play and win at this game. Instead of being clipped like sheep with casinos and lotteries. We do that by forming our own internet wagering company, and marketing horse racing as the leisure time game that every player craves, easy to play, with a fair chance to win, and the entertainment of a sport. At the track, or at home.

The seats will be packed, if we simply unite to put all of this on the table. United, we can set that table for all of the players/fans that hunger for the excitement, entertainment, and reward that only horse racing can actually deliver. We can deliver that message much better than any race track executive, because we know it, they don't. The group will grow and thrive, because there is value for each and every one in uniting as a group.

To start setting that table, I will put in all that I have of value to offer to this group and horse racing, if you will join me in this effort. by supporting it with your presence and $4.95 a month in exchange for every product of HorsePlayerU.com. I will give you:

• The full month of Ability-X Ratings All-Tracks
• The Ebooks - "Using Ability-X Ratings V"
• "Exacta Magic II"
• "Winning the Pick3"
• All publications and/or Videos produced in the next year.

You can even look at the first month as a 30-day trial if you'd like, I expect to earn your commitment each and every month, as we work together to turn this thing around. Others will join in because we all get full value. That is the message, that is what will bring back our sport.

So that you aren't taking any risks, in uniting with me to build this movement and get it rolling, I have set this up on The Point. At this website, you can join this campaign, but your credit card is not charged unless and until at least 2000 others also join. So, we can start changing things right now by getting the word out as much as you can to as many as possible. The more that we can unite with, the faster the changes happen. Full value to each and every one. Let's make it happen!

As this group grows, because of that simple trait, we can inform management of what they need to deliver, in order to themselves deliver value to each and every one of this consumer/media/information group. Full value, on each and every issue, for each and every one. A little committment, and a little effort from a united many is all it will take.

Chuck Berndt - the man that saved horse racing.

Another brash, and outlandish statement from me, a student of Chuck Berndt. How can I say such a thing when everybody knows that horse racing is in dire straits today, and for the most part, because it failed to learn anything from Chuck Berndt, in the 70's. How dare I, indeed! But, I was paying attention then, and I still am today.

Nobody was thinking much about saving horse racing back in the 70's when Chuck Berndt, the soft spoken business genius, persuaded Ken Noe to let him teach a school at Calder Race Course. Horse racing was doing pretty well, and it was just the dawn of the current, "hose 'em for worthless information as much as you can", era. Somehow, Chuck won out, and he became the only man in America to attract over 1000 people a day to live seminars at a race track.

For years, Chuck Berndt gave away quality information and taught thousands of people how to play the "game" of horse racing. It was a grand success, the Calder grandstand would practically tilt as people gathered around not just to hear what he had to say, but to have him teach them how the game is played. Chuck turned gamblers into horseplayers, and handicappers into analysts, all of them learning to play the game of horse racing from a master. He did it all with the kind of success that is totally unknown to handicappers that simply re-arrange the morning line to sell newspapers.

Thousands came, and thousands learned, even in the wilting south Florida heat of summer, an average of 15,000 would gather at Calder to play the horses. Chuck had done it again, the marketing genius that had him owning three auto dealerships at the age of 23, was working full steam for the game he loved with a passion.

But, then the "powers that be" realized that Chuck was the worst newspaper salesman that they had ever had. Instead of telling people that they had to handicap, and they had to buy a DRF, Chuck was telling them, "the handicapping is already done." And, then proved it every afternoon with his analysis of that handicapping.

Not only that, through his demonstration of race day analysis, he was teaching them all of the simple ways to play the game, things that made it enjoyable and fun, without getting the extra $10 bucks for information. On top of that, he was saying things about the chosen ones, the book writers, like, "they can't help it, they just don't know." It took years for management to figure it out, but once they realized that the extra $10 was not being extracted, the early era of player education was over.

Chuck Berndt conducted his classes privately for another 19 years. The fee was $395 in 1981,  I say today that it was the best $395 I ever spent for horse racing information, because the point of it all was, anybody can play this game, and, the handicapping IS already done. Everything I have done in horse racing has been an expansion and continuation of the work started by Chuck Berndt.

There were two 12 hour classes conducted in February, and for the rest of the year Chuck earned a fine income following the NY circuit including Gulfstream and Hialeah in the winter months. For over 50 years Chuck made his money at the windows, and taught thousands of others how to play the game. Chuck Berndt passed away at 85 on May 15th, 2010. I always have, and still get email from people asking about him from this page on my website, http://HorsePlayerU.com/aboutme.htm

This is why I say that everything I have done in horse racing is an expansion and continuation of what this man learned and taught others. I have experienced the same cold-shoulder by the information industry, and I remember Chuck telling me in 2009, "I don't care if you have the best ratings ever, they will never let you in their club." So far, this has remained true. But, today I realize that if I can't crash the club, Chuck will never make it either. He has already saved horse racing. The problem is that I am the only one that knows that.

In my attempts to promote horse racing to regular folks, and to make a thankful attempt at re-instating what this man started. I suggested to Keeneland, in 2008, that they should actively teach people how to play this game. Apparently, they liked the idea enough to get with NTRA, and DRF, to sponsor something they call Night School, staffed with some great newspaper sales people, to dazzle and confuse you with a baffling course on past performance handicapping. I see nothing about how to play the game. Too bad for horse racing.

The real kicker is that Chuck Berndt not only saved horse racing back in the 1970's, back then, he also layed out for all of us what to do now to save horse racing in 2011. Join me, in my attempt to implement the plan here in the 21st century. In 2008, Chuck told me that if I have the best rating of ability that horse racing has ever seen, then I should give it away. Join me at HorsePlayerU.com, so that I can give it to you. It's all about playing the game successfully.

A gathering (people, standing around), or a movement (people, in motion for change)?

I visited the "A Fight to Save Horse Racing" Facebook page this morning, as I often do, just to see if anybody is around that I might be able to fire up with some of my ideas, to see that once again, not much is going on. And, still without any feedback on my own latest ideas for lighting fire, I thought I might knock some dust off of the Discussions tab and re-visit the old "Grass-Roots Movement" thread, started by horse racing's #1 Fan(atic), Sean Kerr.

Sure, I've read the thread 100 times already, since there is very little new to read that I didn't post myself, in my shameless efforts to instigate any signs of life. But, today I took note of a particularly good idea posted by thinkin' man, Larry Lacoursiere .

Larry Lacoursiere
I like the way you think Sean! I have been saying it for years also. I believe there needs to be one body that runs it all. We need a Horse racing Lottery. Casino's are a band-aid, always have been. A Horse Racing Lottery would put attention to the sport we love, and bring its fans back. The Government has to take responsibility for there part in all of this. Racetracks should get compensation from Casino's. The Casino's are directly responsible for our missing attendance, and they should have to pay, for putting a 300 year old sport to the brink of extinction. No doubt some leadership and real vision could have prevented this but here we are.
If you open up a Lottery in every State and Province that has Horse Racing enable it so that you can bet it from every State or Province Lottery outlet...Guess what, you would put money back into the industry and it would flourish. I know the Government would rather take then give but extinction is real!!
about 4 months ago · Report

Hopefully, Larry won't mind, but this is such a good idea that I'd like to go over it one piece at a time to show why the horse racing industry would never put a dime toward doing it. And, perhaps show how people (in motion) could get it done for dimes.

We need a Horse racing Lottery. Casino's are a band-aid, always have been. A Horse Racing Lottery would put attention to the sport we love, and bring its fans back.

That's a great idea, but horse racing isn't interested in competing with the state's lottery. Since the lotteries have removed so many players from horse racing also, the states will pay them back by giving them casinos. Out of all of the parties involved, it is only horse racing people that care about what happens with horse racing. If the horse racing people do not get into motion to stop or re-direct this shift, horse racing will just become extinct as a game that people can't afford.

Of course, those that own it will still have it for their own purposes, just like always. Stop being fans and players if you want, they don't care, they will continue to run horse racing for themselves and you, or your non-fan neighbor will pay for it with lottery/casino play. This will come about soon, IF the fans and players of horse racing continue doing what they are doing to stop or re-direct it. Which is nothing, at least nothing of substance.

The Government has to take responsibility for there part in all of this. Racetracks should get compensation from Casino's. The Casino's are directly responsible for our missing attendance, and they should have to pay, for putting a 300 year old sport to the brink of extinction. No doubt some leadership and real vision could have prevented this but here we are.

When you say government, here in America, you are talking about people. People could straighten this mess out from both sides, and real quick. But, they would have to start moving in that direction, not just standing around. Since the people are government, they could just blockade casinos, and re-direct state lotteries, if they wanted to. Maybe if they did, horse racing would have to start lobbying them.

Wouldn't that be something? Of course, the first thing horse racing people would need to do, is get moving. Start lobbying other fans, other players, other people. It is said that our Revolution and Independence only came about because of the printing press, people communicating with other people for a common cause.  I believe this is true.

Today, the 3762 "likers" of "A Fight to Save Horse Racing" would read this article as one individual connected to 3761 like minded individuals through the most powerful communication tool ever. Bringing positive change to the sport/game of horse racing would only be a matter of putting it to that use. Going in motion.

Sponsor this blog for .25 cents per week, while Penn Gaming spends millions to lobby you for casinos. Participate, post, comment, pass it around and post links. Market horse racing back to prominence. Do what track management and the information publishers won't, then they will have to do what you want.

Soon, "A Fight to Save Horse Racing" would be many thousands of doers, once again, making a dream real.

Dreaming...

A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality. John Lennon

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better.

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."

----- Teddy Roosevelt

Who is willing to dream the dream together in order to cause it to become reality? We have united in the dream of saving horse racing and the time has come to begin movement in making that dream real. Many of the ideas on the Facebook page revolve around positive publicity, and using that to inspire and/or persuade management to make positive changes for the betterment of horse racing.

I believe that this idea will carry the day, however the truth is that management either owns or influences all publications that revolve around horse racing. It is plain to see that management is more interested in publicizing their "need" for casino gambling than they are in publicizing anything positive about horse racing. Or doing anything that might attract new players or those currently playing casino/lottery games.

Sure, there are faint attempts, and feigned efforts thrown toward horseplayers that want to play horses anyway, but, there is no real effort to recruit anyone at the scratch-off counter, or seated in a slot palace. With all of the passion of the buttoned-down businessman, management has repeled all persuasion for the promotion of horse racing in favor of active pursuit and investment in casino gaming.

I am able to state that plain truth to you because I won't get fired for doing so. I don't work for management, or the casino gaming agenda. I love horse racing, and prefer to spend my time telling everyone that I can how it is still the best game in town, every town. My dream is to save horse racing by seeing that every casino/lottery player everywhere, knows this also. Together, we can realize all dreams for saving horseracing.

"A Fight to Save Horseracing" could sponsor this blog at a cost of $1 dollar per month per member, and this blog would operate to publicize all of the positives of horse racing to compete with all other games. Across the internet, and across the nation.

Dreamers have a motto, "What if"

What if, the members of "A fight to save horse racing" sponsored this blog?

With their access, commentary, and passing around, it would become the #1 horse racing blog.

What if, this blog featured all of the simple, yet effective ways to play the game of horse racing?

Its popularity would grow, and thousands of players would discover that horse racing is the best game.

What if handle increased because of this?

Management would become anxious to retain this by fixing everything that is wrong with horse racing. This blog would continue as guardian of fan interest.

"Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not."

Robert F. Kennedy