M4$ Standings

[The Pook]

PatC joins the group and grabs the first winner along with the Pook. Welcome Pat! This ups the jackpot to $450!

[The Pook]

Out of the eight contestants so far, six bagged the winner this weekend. PatC, Pook, Ted, Bill V., Mike, and cigar found their ways to the winners circle although there won't be too much "writing home action" regarding the payoff. But thanks to Tim for the race. We appreciate the effort.

With Bill V. joining we now have both founding fathers with us in the Match4$. This ups the jackpot to $500. Not too shabby but I'm sure there are others at Pace and Cap contemplating throwing their hats into the ring. You have eight more challenges before the final table is locked in since you need to play a minimum of ten. There were over 600 views at this past weekends challenge watching eight contestants. Just for comparison PaceAdvantages InnerTrack contest had around the 800 view mark with nearly a hundred contestants. So we have plenty of attention. There are a lot of good matchers still on the sidelines at this site.

We don't bite here at Match4$. Nobody will be judged. We are just a small corner in the universe of Handicapping Contests. One that uniquely requires a little documentation or written support of choices. And you don't need to be an expert. No diatribe is expected. Learn by doing and having fun at the same time. Straight RDSS users are welcome. See Teds entry using RDSS screens. That is fine because really it is all Matching when using any of the Sartin Methodology. Its just $50 and each entry makes the whole sweeter for everybody. We are all gamblers are we not? It is a good thing as Martha says. It is fun to be a part of this every racing Saturday. And as in all things racing the fun is exponentially higher when you have a stake in it.

I have had some PM's from some concerned about Paypal and the fact that they don't have an account or whatever. No problem. Anybody can get a Paypal account. You can be walked through the process of getting one so don't let that be an issue. Some have suggested paying out for first, second, and third. I think if we can get this to $1000 we will have a poll of players as to thoughts on that.

Feel free to PM me with any comments on Match4$.

Pook

[The Pook]

One winner this week of the substitute race on Monday because of Aqueduct cancelling on Saturday. Congratulations Bill V.

Pook

[The Pook]

Two winners this week. Bill V. goes three for three and mowens33 starts his run for the top.

Pook

[The Pook]

Mike was the only winner. Quite a few passers. The leaderboard shifts around a bit.

Pook

[The Pook]

We are in a run of short prices here. I really tried to find a race with what I thought would have a price but to no avail. We were all aware of the 4 and he was dominant. It is difficult to land on races where the public is wrong. To at least beyond single figures wrong. Here are this years prices all hit by at least one player. And the average payoff.

[The Pook]

Here are the payoffs hit by at least one player in the 2015 Matchup Contest. 60 hits of 76 opportunities. So far this year we are below average in price and number of hits beyond single digits. The double digit prices accounted for about one third overall which is consistent with my own personal daily activity. So over time this years numbers should rise but we will have only 20 opportunities to do it as compared to the 76 of last year.

Pook

[The Pook]

Currently

[The Pook]

No hits.

[The Pook]

3 players. 1 winner of a whopping $4.20 payoff. I thought for a second that the 8's momentum might carry him past. But no. The low odds horse prevails again.

I know some players don't care for maiden races but I find them often to be uncompetitve affairs where there are easily only 2 or 3 contenders. As long as you can look past the FTS or no info horses that may jump up and bite you if there aren't too many of them. I prefer races with less work because I guess I'm kind of a lazy handicapper. Of course no hidden gem was uncovered here. But almost.

Cigar, I realize people have other lives and that the odd posting will be missed. Thats why I keep an eye on it and jump in as required.

Pook

[The Pook]

Another week, another dud. Even Richie couldn't break the streak for us. Thanks to Richie though for his attempt. It was a good shot with an interesting race and plenty of views. Congrats to cigar, Ted and Gandalf who did have the winner which was better than not having it as it turned out.

And of course welcome to the wizard Gandalf who steps back in after being a regular player last year! You move right on up to 2nd place! Good to have you back.

I can't help but notice that last years defending champion Raceman has not made an appearance. Time is running out.

With Gandalf we are now shooting for a $550 prize! Nobody has run away from the pack yet. The last ten challenges could get tense.

See you Saturday when the Mow Man (mowens33) takes another stab at another post.

Pook

[The Pook]

Still with the chalk. Oh well Capcondo nabs it alone and finds the stairs out of the basement. PK finally gets his entry in and makes it a group of ten vying for $600 US. That is $780 to us Canadians!
And we have a Canadian in the lead! Cigar by virtue of being the only one with ten contests played is the only one qualified to take the prize at this time. Cigar could theoretically shut it down and coast home. The way things have been going maybe a -79% ROI will take the win. Probably not.
One last chance next week for any last minute joiners. It will be a closed contest after that.

Til next week,
Pook

[The Pook]

I'm sitting right here so I might as well tally things up. Congratulations to BillV, PK, and TedC for the win(Ted with a single). With a $5.10 payoff things shift a bit but not much. Poor old Pete's ladder that he had carefully crafted this week fell apart. He will have to stay mired in mud for now as the only player without a win. Keep your chin up Pete! Well it will be naturally because you are down there looking up.;)

Til next week
Pook

[The Pook]

Congratulations to our only winner PatC. With that he takes over the lead!
Only 8 races to go.

Pook

[gandalf380]

Look out cigar-- here i come

[cigar]

Look out cigar-- here i come

I am waiting Gandalf! I know this group is better than what the results shows. At this point I cannot go for short price - looking for few BOMBS................ Thank God I have full time employment :D

[The Pook]

Thanks Tim for finally breaking the spell with the small-pooled Sunland race. Way to go Mike for your solo hit! Nice one too at $23.20.
With that mowens33 shoots up the leaderboard in the NQ section. PatC remains leader overall. Unfortunately PK had to be disqualified because he can no longer reach the required plays. He said he was aware that this might happen but that he wanted to contribute to the pot anyway. He wants to still submit if he can but realizes he has no shot at the prize. Thankyou Patrick for your generosity.

7 to Go
Pook

[The Pook]

Multiple winners this week.

Pook

[The Pook]

Gandalf is the sole winner this week of the biggest payoff so far and becomes the only player in the black. Mowens takes the lead after playing ten and qualifying. We are 3/4 of the way through. Ends on the day of the Belmont when perhaps Nyquist will be running for Triple Crown glory.

Pook

[The Pook]

We have been getting some more respectable prices recently and gandalf has capitalized. $10.80 this week is OK. Along with gandalf, cigar and Bill V. had the winner. Mowens stays in the official lead for now but the two players with positive ROI's at this point, gandalf and Bill V., are two and one races away from qualifying.

I included an additional stat this week for hit rate. Bill V. has a Sartin level rate of 66.6% with 9 races played. Bill's modest ROI reflects the favourite streak in the first half. gandalf and Ted Craven are cruising along at 50% which is respectable too. Should point out that the two lowest hit rates of 12.5% and 10% by Capcondo and PeteC have been amassed mostly by single play. That is much tougher.

Not much more to say at this point.
See you next week,
Pook

[The Pook]

Bill V. takes the lead after qualifying. He and Pat C. had the $5.00 winner.

Pook

[The Pook]

And now Gandalf with his foot firmly on the gas pedal qualifies and is officially in the lead. He and Pat C. were the two winners this week of a modest $5.80. Anything can still happen but Gandalf and Bill V. look pretty solid up top. Gandalf could possibly just sit still now, except that Bill is maybe a little too close for comfort. Remember this is a winner takes all event.

Pook

[The Pook]

Cigar set up a beauty this week and then he and four others hit it out of the park after sweating a head-bob photo finish. When Gandalf singled this weeks $22.70 winner against the others doubles, I thought he would be unreachable.
Not so.
Look at the way things jump around so easily when good prices are hit. ROI is very dependent on the weight of previous betting. For sure Gandalf is in the catbirds seat but with the right score many players could leap up and overtake.
Like cigar wrote in the last challenge there are specks in Gandalfs rearview mirror and they are all larger than they appear.
Mr. Wizard don't relax........we are coming!
Mike "The Mowerman" mowens has the honour of posting the final challenge.

Pook

[The Pook]

Congratulations to Gandalf who hangs on with Ted sweeping into second place!
Kind of anticlimactic but nonetheless Gandalf takes home the winners prize of $600. A cool $550 profit for this Matchup Champ. Great matching Mr Wizard!

Gandalf send a PM to every contestant with your Paypal account id. Every player once receiving it should transfer $50 US to this account at their earliest convenience except Ted who transfers $150 US.

Thanks to all.
Pook

[Ted Craven]

Congratulations Charlie (gandalf)! You've consistently had your eye on the ball! That prize should pay for your trip to Woodbine this Summer!

We'll all give you your tiara when we gather there :D

Thank you everyone for a great Contest!

Ted