HOBART 12/08

" from discord channel . Not me"

I just returned from BetBash in Las Vegas. Always a fun time to be around like-minded people. I always feel like a man without a country at an event like that. Most attendees are sports bettors without any knowledge or interest in horse racing. And most horseplayers with a few exceptions just don't approach the game like I do. The panel discussion I was apart of was fun. Always a challenge to not spill some secrets or philosophies, but I try to do as much media/content like that as I can for one simple reason: continued general interest from existing or potentially new customers. I'm anything but a doom and gloomer, but obviously horse racing isn't performing well as an industry and I at least want to delay the end as much as I can. I'm one person, but generating content is important...especially at a conference like BetBash. Surprisedly, I fielded a lot of questions from some newer players interested in the game. (edited)

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[3:07 PM]
Another topic I discussed with some other horseplayers was that we really believe that BetBash is such a great opportunity for some horse racing focused companies to advertise. You have over 500 gamblers attend this event.....with most of them on the more engaged side of gambling with some larger customer lifetime value figures. Furthermore, you have a lot of quantative minded people there. How does a company like Equibase not attend the event? It was fantastic they deliver a years worth of data for free. Attend a conference like BetBash to find NEW customers. Same would apply for some other companies. I applaud Amwager for attending....and I know Optix was there 2 years ago.

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dcaps222 — Today at 3:14 PM
For the past 2 conferences, the trip is made worth it just by talking to Zeljko. If you don't know Zeljko, google his name. They guy is a legend and always has some unique advice. He is very kind with his time as I see him talk to so many attendees. I'm not going to lie...I felt like a beast when he spotted me at the deli eating and came up to say hello. I won't go into what we spoke about for the most part, but I will discuss something that hit me hard. I forgot how it came up, but he mentioned how his career contributes nothing to society and he's been trying to find ways to correct that. As someone so focused for years now on making as much money as I can and seen success, I also contribute nothing to society. Yeah I'll donate to so and so's marathon cancer research, St. Jude's, etc., but at what point is my life just clicking my mouse for many hours and then enjoying my social life. Frankly, I don't know if children will be something we're going to pursue for personal reasons. Hearing Zeljko, one of the most accomplished gamblers ever, humbly say he's struggling with this conundrum was a wake up call for me. Sorry for getting heavy, but it's been on my mind.

I'll share one thing Zeljko said to me that made me laugh. He attended my panel where I mentioned Benter's intial paper from 1994. Zeljko said he thinks Bill writing that paper has cost them over $1 billion. He also said David Walsh cost them an insane amount of money after talking about winning a lottery for a few million that had an insane edge. There's a lesson there somewhere.

hob 12-08 r4

key to race is how cleanly can the 8 get across, inside dogs have some early speed may just give him the right path