Tag: Paulick Report

Hong Kong Racing Study Guide: Best Riders By ROI

The 2021-2022 Hong Kong Jockey Club season began on September 5 and will continue with racing twice a week until July 16. The rider colony has been dominated by Joao Moreira and Zac Purton as they have shared the last eight titles but the more familiar you are with the other riders, the better you will be. The racing is extremely competitive and the riders are under extreme scrutiny from the racing officials. At the end of each racing day, they issue warnings, reprimands and suspensions when the rules are not being followed. As a bettor, rest assured you are getting a fair shake.

The leading riders win the most races but they also receive the most backing. Blindly betting them rarely works out over time. In Hong Kong, there are just over 20 riders that have licenses to ride. Because the average field size is over 12, many of them are kept busy but don't always get quality mounts. Thus, many have very low win percentages. Still, when they win, they can pay well.

The following are the leading jockeys from the 2020-2021 season based on wins:

Jockey Wins Rides Money Earned
Joao Moreira 157 742 $1,212.90
Zac Purton 125 713 $1,180.20
Karis Teetan 79 741 $1,182.80
Vincent Ho 61 614 $910.50
Jerry Chau 58 481 $1,044.80
Alexis Badel 58 622 $943.40
Derek Leung 39 609 $1,146.30
Matthew Poon 37 537 $965.30
Matthew Chadwick 31 458 $670.90
Antoine Hamelin 27 538 $690.40
Chad Schofield 26 390 $463.90
Blake Shinn 24 374 $784.30
Vagner Borges 22 435 $1,006.00

 

Takeout on win betting in Hong Kong is 17.5% so an average win payoff of $1.65 exceeds the takeout. The following are the leading jockeys from the 2020-2021 season based on a ROI per $2 win bet:

Jockey Wins Rides Money Earned $2 Bet/Horse ROI
Vagner Borges 22 435 $1,006.00 $870.00 $2.31
Jerry Chau 58 481 $1,044.80 $962.00 $2.17
Blake Shinn 24 374 $784.30 $748.00 $2.10
Derek Leung 39 609 $1,146.30 $1,218.00 $1.88
Matthew Poon 37 537 $965.30 $1,074.00 $1.80
Zac Purton 125 713 $1,180.20 $1,426.00 $1.66
Joao Moreira 157 742 $1,212,90 $1,484.00 $1.63
Karis Teetan 79 741 $1,182.80 $1,482.00 $1.60
Alexis Badel 58 622 $943.40 $1,244.00 $1.52
Vincent Ho 61 614 $910.50 $1,228.00 $1.48
Matthew Chadwick 31 458 $670.90 $916.00 $1.46
Antoine Hamelin 27 538 $690.40 $1,076.00 $1.28
Chad Schofield 26 390 $463.90 $780.00 $1.19

 

Some words of caution:

Vagner Borges benefitted from wins that paid $359.30 (race 563) and $117.50 (race 40).

Blake Shinn benefitted from a win that paid $151.90 (race 349).

Derek Leung benefited from wins that paid $138.20 (race 247) and $121.60 (race 257).

Jerry Chau continues to thrive with his five-pound apprentice allowance and his results are the most predictable.

As far as pari-mutuel payoffs, there is little statistical difference between Zac Purton (ROI = $1.66), Joao Moreira (ROI = $1.63) and Karis Teetan (ROI = $1.60).

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TVG ‘Friends Month’ Promo Raises Over $44,700 For Old Friends Retirees

As hundreds of horseplayers will try to renew their racing luck wagering through TVG for the first time, the retired racehorses at Old Friends in Georgetown, Ky., are already winners.

Marketing experts at TVG have long found success with their 'refer a friend' program, which delivers existing users a personalized sign-up link and then gives them a bonus if a friend uses their link to open a new account. This summer, FanDuel Vice President of Racing Andrew Moore believed the program could use a new twist.

“As people have been getting to see friends again, we were ideating on how to give the program an extra push for August and the outcome was Friends Month,” said Moore. “Bringing Old Friends Farm in was a natural fit, so not only would we give a referral bonus to you when the friend you referred signed up to TVG, but we would also give to Old Friends. This is a great cause and it was a fun way for racing fans not only to give to their friends, but also to raise money for their retired racing friends they have so much affection for.”

Moore and the TVG team hoped for 400 referrals in the month of August, which would have raised $20,000 for Old Friends. They were surprised when the program brought in 894 referrals for a total of $44,700 in donations.

“Credit must go to our marketing team and the talent on the TVG network who really got behind the promotion but of course the biggest thanks goes to all the fans who supported it,” said Moore.

If TVG was pleasantly surprised by the results, Old Friends founder and president Michael Blowen was ecstatic.

“It was amazing, and it was all their idea,” said Blowen. “TVG has been great to us, I have to say. Most of the broadcasters on TVG have been to the farm. When a horse is running in a race and is named after one of our horses, they'll talk about the Old Friends connection and show pictures of the farm.

“You put away the tin cup and good things happen.”

The tie-in was all the more poetic for Blowen, given his entry to racing as a horseplayer himself.

“I got into this because I love handicapping,” he said. “I love watching TVG, so it was perfect.”

Blowen said he already has plans for the windfall — the farm will use the money to construct a new paddock, which will be named after TVG and dedicated to “hard-knocking geldings” like the ones favored by TVG commentators. As always, Blowen says he has a waiting list of horses preparing to retire to Old Friends, and as always, he's as excited as a kid on Christmas Eve about every one of them — particularly Zulu Alpha, whose retirement was announced officially on Friday.

“I'm hoping when everybody's here for Keeneland, we can get some of the men and women over here for a special presentation with a sign and the check,” said Blowen. “Couldn't come at a better time, either. I've got this one spot picked out that's really nice.”

Old Friends is a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited facility founded in 2003 and remains one of few retirement organizations equipped to house intact stallions whose breeding careers are finished. The organization now encompasses a 236-acre main campus and over 200 retirees.

The many Old Friends fans at TVG all have a favorite retiree somewhere on the property. For Moore, it's Soi Phet.

“What a fun horse!” he said.

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Delaware Stewards Issue Summary Suspension Against Cobb, Alleging A Host Of Rule Violations

On Sept. 10, Delaware stewards summarily suspended embattled trainer Amber Cobb, citing a lengthy list of violations of Delaware regulations. Per Delaware rules, summarily suspended licensees have three racing days in which to appeal the summary suspension; a hearing held during this time would deal only with whether the summary suspension will be ongoing, pending a disciplinary hearing to deal with evidence of rules violations. A disciplinary hearing would follow separately.

Cobb came under scrutiny this summer, when a former employee filmed two incidents between Cobb and a young filly on a training center in New Jersey and brought the video to Delaware stewards as evidence of improper or inhumane treatment of a horse in violation of Delaware rules. Stewards handed Cobb a two-year suspension for the incident, and Cobb appealed that ruling. Her suspension was later reduced to 60 days by the members of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission.

Read more about that appeal hearing, and see a video of the incident in question here.

The 60-day suspension issued by the commission is scheduled to end Sept. 20.

Below is the text of the Sept. 10 ruling, listing the rules the stewards allege she has violated. Cobb is denied access to commission grounds, pending a hearing on the summary suspension.

2.5.1.20. Past or contemplated conduct or utterance which, does or may adversely affect, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and whether in fact or only seemingly, the public's confidence in the reputation Thoroughbred racing heretofore has enjoyed in Delaware for stringent adherence to uncompromising standards of honesty, integrity and propriety.

18.3.1. Based upon the report and advice of the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau premised upon its investigation and/or information available to it from governmental or other investigative sources or, based upon their own investigation and determination, either the Commission, the Stewards or the Licensee may bar or eject any person, permanently or for a lesser period, from Licensee's grounds or any part thereof who, by reason of his or her past or contemplated conduct or associations is, or would be, in any direct or indirect way detrimental to the continued maintenance and promotion of high standards for honesty, integrity and propriety in all Thoroughbred racing conducted in Delaware.

2.5.1.22 Drug addiction, public drunkenness, financial irresponsibility or failure to pay debts when due, bad moral character, intemperate habits, bad reputation for honesty, truth and veracity, past instance of lying, cheating, or stealing, or involvement in a subject of public notice as involved in any activity which, would be inconsistent with the best interests of racing by reflection on the honesty and integrity of the sport of racing, or association with persons so characterized.

2.5 Grounds for Refusal, Suspension, or Revocation of a Permit.

2.5.1 The Commission in its discretion, may refuse to register or to issue an authorization or permit to an applicant, or may suspend or revoke a registration, permit, or authorization previously issued, or order disciplinary measures, on the following grounds.

2.5.1.1 Denial of a license, permit, authorization or registration to an applicant, or suspension or revocation of such, in another racing jurisdiction at any previous time.

2.5.1.4 Failure to comply with any order or ruling of the Commission, Stewards, or Racing Official pertaining to a racing matter.

2.5.1.8 Intoxication, use of profanity, fighting, or any conduct of a disorderly nature, on Licensee's grounds.

2.5.1.9 Employment or harboring of unauthorized persons required by these Rules to register or have a permit or authorization.

2.5.1.12 Possession on Licensee's grounds by a person other than a licensed Veterinarian of:

2.5.1.12.1 Hypodermic needle, or hypodermic syringe, or other device which could be used to administer any substance to a horse.

2.5.1.14 Cruelty to a horse or neglect of a horse entrusted to a permittee's care.

7.3 Duties and Responsibilities:

7.3.1 A registered Trainer shall bear primary responsibility for the proper care, health, training, condition, safety and protection against administration of prohibited drugs or medication of horses in his charge.

 

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Reader Mail Bag: Continued Outrage In The Wake Of Cobb Suspension Reduction

We received a flood of emails, social media messages, and calls from readers in reaction to the Amber Cobb case in Delaware, which we covered here and analyzed further here. Though our readership usually takes a range of viewpoints on many of the regulatory issues in racing, the mail we received almost uniformly expressed shock and outrage at the decision by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission to reduce Cobb's suspension from the two years to two months after stewards determined she exhibited cruelty to a horse.

For the sake of brevity, we opted to run one of these letters (below), which we felt was most representative of the bulk of correspondence we received. 

In addition to these notes, we were also made aware that at least one owner reached out to the commission to announce the stable's decision to no longer enter horses in Delaware as a result of the commission's decision. Many other readers likewise expressed that they had or planned to send feedback to the commission. 

 

I, like everyone else who has seen it, was utterly disgusted with not only the video depicting the actions of trainer Amber Cobb against one of her horses, but also the almost complete ignorance of the Delaware Racing Commission in reducing her suspension for those actions. How this industry continues to manage to shoot itself in the foot repeatedly is just mind boggling to me. Actions that are as heinous as those displayed by Ms. Cobb require only one reaction, and that is immediate revocation of her license to train horses anywhere in this industry (or any other equine industry for that matter).  Why it seems so hard for commissions to do the right thing in banning these bad actors for life is something I will never understand.

I am a veterinarian licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If a video surfaced of me committing those acts, I would not have my license suspended for two months or even two years. It would be gone permanently in a heartbeat, and I likely would not have the ability to obtain one in any other state in this country.

What occurred in that video is blatant animal cruelty (something I have been involved in assisting the prosecution of for the last 15 years). It can be looked upon as nothing less and should be dealt with accordingly by both law enforcement and the racing commissions. Sadly, that did not happen in the case of the decision of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, if and when it is finally in full effect, will hopefully put an end to this concern once and for all.  In the meantime, just because an issue like this occurred in one state does not mean other states that she is licensed in cannot act on their own. Every state in which Ms. Cobb is licensed needs to start the process of immediate revocation of that license.

I am fully aware of a person's due process rights and what can happen when racetracks or commissions take away those rights via their actions in some suspensions (the NYRA Bob Baffert case for example). I am also aware that anyone who is accused of or charged with a violation of any kind is entitled to their full due process. I urge the Commissions to do their proper investigation and due diligence on this case, and then render their decision quickly.  To me, the only decision that it can be is immediate and permanent revocation of the license.

Another thing I have learned over the years is the true power that we as the public can have in matters before a racing commission. I learned this after the intense pressure put on the PA Racing Commission by so many to get the license of the trainer of a horse named Silent Ruler permanently revoked after the horse was found in a state of severe pain and neglect from a non-attended to sesamoid fracture.

Therefore, I urge everyone who sees this letter to please write into or contact your state racing commission and politely but firmly urge them to not allow this cruelty to continue by revoking Ms. Cobb's license to train horses in that state if she holds one and to not consider granting her one if she does not.

We hear all the time how commissions and those in the industry want to bring back integrity to the sport. The Delaware racing commission has failed miserably at this. It doesn't mean that others must follow that lead.

–Dr. Bryan Langlois
Past President, Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association
Board Member, ThoroFan

If you would like to submit a letter to the editor on this or other topics, please reach out using the Ask Ray page. We may contact you for further information or clarification prior to publication.

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