Rxlawyer at NTRA Championship! - Page 3 - Pace and Cap

Rxlawyer · 01-26-2007, 11:50 PM

To All:

It was a very long day. I just got in from dinner and want to do some work for tomorrow. I will get up early to get ready.

The leader had $103.00 for 15 races which tells you how tough the day was for everyone. When I qualified for this I had $109.20 over 9 races.

I am still hopefull to come in the top 20. I only need 1 good race to get back in the real hunt.

Looking forward to tomorrow.

Gary

jms62 · 01-27-2007, 06:52 AM

Good luck today Gary... I have a question for you about the format. With the 2.00 Win and 2.00 place bet, do you get points deducted for losses ?

jms

Rxlawyer · 01-27-2007, 10:27 AM

Dear JMS:

Thank you!

The sad answer is no. They simply add the payoff for $2 win and place and that is your score. There is a cap of 20-1 for win and 10-1 for place.

Now you see the tough day that was had by all. In most contests the $103.00 that won here yesterday for 15 races would have been totally out of the money when averaged out to $6.86 per race. My goal for the tournament was $9.00 per race. When I finished second in the Brisnet.com contest I averaged over $12 per race. I usually average over $7.00 per race. Maybe I set my goals too high.

I am not making any excuses, but I was more than a little excited to be here. I was even a little nervous which is very unusual for me. Plus, I was probably trying too hard.

Hopefully, I will do better today. No matter what, it has been a dream come true for me. As they said at the start of competition - there are tens of thousands of horseplayers who wish they had one of the seats here. I will just do my best.

Gary

Rxlawyer · 01-27-2007, 09:33 PM

To All:

This is my final report from Las Vegas. I hope my comments help someone at some point in the future.

Now I know how the losers of the Super Bowl feel. Today was difficult with the cameras from ESPN everywhere and many photographers and reporters.

Essentially, I lost my ability to concentrate and I simply tried way too hard.

The day started off with a disaster. I sort of liked a 50-1 at Gulfstream. but I liked several other horses in the race and I decided to pass. The 5 broke well and was in contention for about1/4 of a mile and then faded. I was really relieved. I still do not know how the 5 got back in the race, but it came flying down the stretch and won by 1/2 a nostril. That would have put me in or very near the lead. I could not concentrate the rest of the day which I find very disappointing. The moral of the story is to pay attention and listen to that little voice in your head. If I had I might have won the whole thing.

I am not making excuses. The good news for me is that virtually every one of my horses was in contention at the turn for home so I was not all that far off the mark. Plus I did have my fair share of bad luck. Like a 17-1 that was flying on the rail on the turn for home only to get cut off and pull up to a fast fading horse. Or the 25-1 shot that was pinned on the rail and still fighting. He finally got a nose in front with about 70 yards to go, but lost mementum and finished 5th beaten 3/4 of a length.

All in all it was an excellent experience. I feel that I can definitely compete at this level, but I do need to sharpen up a little. I really need to learn how to control my mental functioning better when something bad happens.

As I have said before - there is always next year!

Thank you for all of your support.

Gary

JimG · 01-27-2007, 11:12 PM

Gary,

Thanks for the report and congratulations on qualifying. That was a tremendous feat. My experience has been that the more tournaments you play in, the less the distractions will bother your concentration. I am sure you will knock em dead next time.

Jim

shoeless · 01-27-2007, 11:42 PM

Gary,Have a safe trip home and better luck next year.

Zaf · 01-28-2007, 03:36 AM

Gary,

Just getting to play in a tournament of that caliber is something to be very proud of ! I would have been thrilled to qualify ! Anything from that point on is like playing with house money. You had a great run my friend. Knock em dead in 2007 !!!

Rxlawyer · 01-28-2007, 10:36 AM

To All:

Thank you for your comments. It was a real thrill to be here and I loved every minute of my experience.

I think it is only natural to be disappointed at not winning or at least to be a contender. At one point I was in 25th position, but that did not last long. The winner had less than $190 for 30 races. I could do that in my sleep probably 90% of the time. This just wasn't one of those times. I actually finished exactly tied with a previous winner. There were other previous winners who did not even qualify to be here. SO I do have a lot to be thankful for this year.

I also know that I need to improve and get my "head on better". I think that I need to get a little more like a doctor with my analysis of how to handle a race. Those will be my goals for the new year.

Gary

admin · 01-28-2007, 10:37 AM

What a insipation you and your exprience was.
Your effort and that you made it to the championship
is very encouraging . Anything is possible if you work hard and
keep at it

Bill

jms62 · 01-28-2007, 11:32 AM

Rx,

I played along from home for fun the last 2 days and was able to accumulate 96.80. Where would that put me ? I had 67.60 the first day but I made the mistake of playing way too many Sunshine Millions races yesterday as optionals looking for the big score. Best I could do there was a 15.40 place horse.

thanks
jms

01-27-2007, 09:33 PM	#24
Rxlawyer Grade 1 Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 212	Final Report To All: This is my final report from Las Vegas. I hope my comments help someone at some point in the future. Now I know how the losers of the Super Bowl feel. Today was difficult with the cameras from ESPN everywhere and many photographers and reporters. Essentially, I lost my ability to concentrate and I simply tried way too hard. The day started off with a disaster. I sort of liked a 50-1 at Gulfstream. but I liked several other horses in the race and I decided to pass. The 5 broke well and was in contention for about1/4 of a mile and then faded. I was really relieved. I still do not know how the 5 got back in the race, but it came flying down the stretch and won by 1/2 a nostril. That would have put me in or very near the lead. I could not concentrate the rest of the day which I find very disappointing. The moral of the story is to pay attention and listen to that little voice in your head. If I had I might have won the whole thing. I am not making excuses. The good news for me is that virtually every one of my horses was in contention at the turn for home so I was not all that far off the mark. Plus I did have my fair share of bad luck. Like a 17-1 that was flying on the rail on the turn for home only to get cut off and pull up to a fast fading horse. Or the 25-1 shot that was pinned on the rail and still fighting. He finally got a nose in front with about 70 yards to go, but lost mementum and finished 5th beaten 3/4 of a length. All in all it was an excellent experience. I feel that I can definitely compete at this level, but I do need to sharpen up a little. I really need to learn how to control my mental functioning better when something bad happens. As I have said before - there is always next year! Thank you for all of your support. Gary Last edited by Rxlawyer; 01-27-2007 at 09:36 PM.

01-28-2007, 10:37 AM	#29
admin Administrator Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,643	Gary What a insipation you and your exprience was. Your effort and that you made it to the championship is very encouraging . Anything is possible if you work hard and keep at it Bill

01-26-2007, 11:50 PM	#21
Rxlawyer Grade 1 Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 212	To All: It was a very long day. I just got in from dinner and want to do some work for tomorrow. I will get up early to get ready. The leader had $103.00 for 15 races which tells you how tough the day was for everyone. When I qualified for this I had $109.20 over 9 races. I am still hopefull to come in the top 20. I only need 1 good race to get back in the real hunt. Looking forward to tomorrow. Gary

01-27-2007, 06:52 AM	#22
jms62 Grade 1 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 798	Good luck today Gary... I have a question for you about the format. With the 2.00 Win and 2.00 place bet, do you get points deducted for losses ? jms

01-27-2007, 10:27 AM	#23
Rxlawyer Grade 1 Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 212	Dear JMS: Thank you! The sad answer is no. They simply add the payoff for $2 win and place and that is your score. There is a cap of 20-1 for win and 10-1 for place. Now you see the tough day that was had by all. In most contests the $103.00 that won here yesterday for 15 races would have been totally out of the money when averaged out to $6.86 per race. My goal for the tournament was $9.00 per race. When I finished second in the Brisnet.com contest I averaged over $12 per race. I usually average over $7.00 per race. Maybe I set my goals too high. I am not making any excuses, but I was more than a little excited to be here. I was even a little nervous which is very unusual for me. Plus, I was probably trying too hard. Hopefully, I will do better today. No matter what, it has been a dream come true for me. As they said at the start of competition - there are tens of thousands of horseplayers who wish they had one of the seats here. I will just do my best. Gary

01-27-2007, 11:12 PM	#25
JimG Grade 1 Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 992	Gary, Thanks for the report and congratulations on qualifying. That was a tremendous feat. My experience has been that the more tournaments you play in, the less the distractions will bother your concentration. I am sure you will knock em dead next time. Jim

01-27-2007, 11:42 PM	#26
shoeless Grade 1 Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 4,653	Gary,Have a safe trip home and better luck next year.

01-28-2007, 03:36 AM	#27
Zaf Grade 2 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 97	Gary, Just getting to play in a tournament of that caliber is something to be very proud of ! I would have been thrilled to qualify ! Anything from that point on is like playing with house money. You had a great run my friend. Knock em dead in 2007 !!!

01-28-2007, 10:36 AM	#28
Rxlawyer Grade 1 Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 212	To All: Thank you for your comments. It was a real thrill to be here and I loved every minute of my experience. I think it is only natural to be disappointed at not winning or at least to be a contender. At one point I was in 25th position, but that did not last long. The winner had less than $190 for 30 races. I could do that in my sleep probably 90% of the time. This just wasn't one of those times. I actually finished exactly tied with a previous winner. There were other previous winners who did not even qualify to be here. SO I do have a lot to be thankful for this year. I also know that I need to improve and get my "head on better". I think that I need to get a little more like a doctor with my analysis of how to handle a race. Those will be my goals for the new year. Gary

01-28-2007, 11:32 AM	#30
jms62 Grade 1 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 798	Rx, I played along from home for fun the last 2 days and was able to accumulate 96.80. Where would that put me ? I had 67.60 the first day but I made the mistake of playing way too many Sunshine Millions races yesterday as optionals looking for the big score. Best I could do there was a 15.40 place horse. thanks jms