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Follow-Up Q&A to Pool Manipulation; Another Incident on Saturday Shows Vulnerabilities

From Thoroughbred Idea Foundation

Since publishing our story on a pool manipulation incident at Gulfstream Park, TIF has received or noticed a variety of comments and questions about it and also identified a new incident of manipulation from Saturday, Nov. 19 at Laurel Park.

We hope to answer some of those questions and provide more context for those trying to understand what is involved in threatening the integrity of the sport.

Among the questions we tackle:

How often does this happen and why?
I don't understand this…could you explain, step-by-step, how someone would go about trying to execute manipulation?
Why do you seem to hate quinellas and want to get them shut down?
Is pool manipulation actually illegal?
If pool manipulation has been on the rise, what is driving that?

Click here or the button below to read our answers which hopefully will add more context to the incidents.

The Thoroughbred Idea Foundation advocates for sustainable improvements to the Thoroughbred racing industry for all stakeholders, especially its primary customers–horseplayers and horse owners – through the exchange, curation and advocacy of sound, data-driven ideas, shared with and implemented by the sport's existing entities.

The post Follow-Up Q&A to Pool Manipulation; Another Incident on Saturday Shows Vulnerabilities appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Better Than $1.1M Returned to Bettors Via Penny Breakage

Through the conclusion of racing at Keeneland Sunday Oct. 15, more than $1.1 million has been returned to bettors since the introduction of penny breakage–rounding pari-mutuel winnings to the penny and not the dime–less than two months ago, according to a blog post from the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation (TIF).

TIF was a vocal supporter and champion of the penny breakage provision, the first of its kind in North America as part of broader legislation designed to standardize pari-mutuel taxation.

“The total is even higher than $1.1 million, that is just in the Thoroughbred win, place and show pools” said TIF Executive Director Patrick Cummings. “The breaks from exotic pools and Kentucky's Standardbred races add even more to the total.”

According to the post, in previous times, if an unrounded $1 return for a bet was $5.0918, under the rules of dime breakage, an even $5 would be returned to gamblers. Under the new rules, a winning bettor receives $5.09.

“Based on observations across Kentucky's tracks and discussions with tellers, there has been a short acclimation period for everyone to get used to it,” Cummings added. “But now that customers receive a 'full' dividend, not only is there no going back, but we start looking elsewhere wondering why others are not as progressive as Kentucky.

“It's been seamless for ADW bettors and overall, the feedback TIF has received has been entirely positive.”

The penny breakage provision was included in Kentucky House Bill 607 and was passed by both legislative branches in March before being signed into law the following month.

“The legislative support to accomplish this cannot be understated, led by Representative Adam Koenig in the House and Majority Leader Damon Thayer in the Senate,” Cummings said. “They mustered the backing of a vast majority of their colleagues to be the first in America to right a multi-generational wrong.

“The penny breakage provision was a small part of a much bigger bill and it is paying back horseplayers that bet Kentucky races, enabling them to churn more across the sport.”

The Keeneland-hosted Breeders' Cup Nov. 4 and 5 will include the enhanced payouts for the first time, as will next year's Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.

“Other states and tracks should want the same, following Kentucky's lead. But until then, Kentucky pays you more,” said Cummings.

The post Better Than $1.1M Returned to Bettors Via Penny Breakage appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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From the TIF: “Unscratched” Horse Second at Mountaineer

by the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation

In an unusual incident on Tuesday, Sept. 6, a horse reported to betting outlets as a scratch for 40 minutes prior to the start of a pick four sequence at Mountaineer Park was later unscratched after betting was closed and allowed to race.

Remarkably, all pick four bets placed were paid to the actual results.

“There are some similarities to the Modern Games (Ire) incident from last year's Breeders' Cup,” said TIF Executive Director Patrick Cummings, “and it proves that wagering rules are in desperate need of an update for the protection of customers.”

Click here to read the rest of this piece from the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation.

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From the TIF: Cross Country Pick 5 Past Posting Exposes Tote Insecurities

“One of the most urgent issues facing our industry is that of improved electronic security for the pari-mutuel wagering system.”

This simple declaration was part of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA)'s five-year strategic plan covering 2006 through 2010, and published in 2005.

Approaching two decades later, there has been little progress on the topic, and recent wagering incidents in the summer of 2022 highlight the long-term failure to address these problems.

If you think the stewards are always in charge of stopping wagering when the race begins, think again. A new revelation suggests that primary control of some bet types resided exclusively in the hands of a single, off-site tote company employee, potentially in violation of wagering rules in numerous states while also exposing a staggering vulnerability.

Click here to read the rest of this piece from the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation.

The post From the TIF: Cross Country Pick 5 Past Posting Exposes Tote Insecurities appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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