Paul Taillon Clinches Consistency Prize for the Fall, 2009, Arlington Park OTB Tour Handicapping Contest Series

Mark Foss, Robert Lowe, and Craig Smith Round out Top Five Entries in Net Standings

On Saturday, November 28, Paul Taillon set a new record, one-day, total for the OTB Tour handicapping contest series by running his $50 stake into $1,381.91.  The bulk of that total was accounted for by an investment of $6.10 in a 10-cent superfecta part wheel.  If you haven’t already done so, you can read Taillon’s story on my blog by clicking here. 

Since that contest, held at Arlington’s South Beloit OTB parlor, did not offer a Las Vegas/World Series trip to the top finisher, Taillon also catapulted to the lead in the net cumulative standings.  That was significant because the final winner in the net cumulative standings wins the Consistency Prize, the coveted Vegas/World Series trip, after all!

Contest participants played each week, at a different Arlington OTB parlor, attempting to run their $50 starting bankroll as high as they could.  First prize at eight of the Tour stops was a trip to Las Vegas to play in the 2010 Coast Casinos World Series handicapping tournament to be held February 18-20.  The top finisher in those weekly contests won a paid entry, worth $1000, into the World Series, a $500 travel voucher, $200 cash, plus Arlington pays for the winner’s lodging for the four days of the World Series.

But Arlington awarded a ninth trip in the current fall OTB Tour series.  An additional trip is awarded to the player who accumulates the highest total of money won over the course of the fall series without winning a weekly prize.  Thus, the prize rewards steady participation and performance, and is therefore named the consistency prize.  Taillon not only topped the net cumulative standings, he topped the cumulative standings, period, or should I say with an exclamation mark!

But it was a nervous next three weeks for Taillon because plenty of good handicappers, solid tournament players, were naturally aiming for him, so to speak.  There were remaining contests at Arlington’s Rockford, McHenry, and Arlington Trackside OTB’s where any one, or more, competitors could have a day like Taillon’s South Beloit day and move ahead of him.

“I never took anything for granted,” admitted Taillon.  “I’ve been playing in these Arlington contests since they started, and I’ve read your (this correspondent’s) weekly blog stories about each contest, and I knew there were a lot of people who are capable of making a big score at any time and passing me in the standings.”

But Taillon not only held on to win, he widened his lead along the way.

“I am obviously so pleased, really elated, to have finished on top,” gushed Taillon when told that he was the winner of the consistency prize. 

“But I’m elated and bummed out at the same time,” Taillon quickly added.  “I grew to look forward to every Saturday and the next road trip to a different parlor for another contest with my expanding circle of friends.  Arlington’s Tour concept really grows on a person.  But now there isn’t another contest until next spring’s Tour.

“I was kind of to myself in the beginning,” continued Taillon.  “But I opened up as more contestants opened up to me.  I was extremely impressed at how many people, my competition remember, congratulated me after my South Beloit win, and also wished me luck thereafter.  It’s quite uplifting to have your competition want to see you do well, since it is quite unexpected and most unusual, I would have thought.  But there is really a growing camaraderie among the group of contest players in spite of the fact we are competing against each other.”

(NOTE:  This correspondent has always preached, if the people you sit with at the races aren’t happy for you when you win, get away from them!)

Taillon’s interest in racing and handicapping has been growing.  “I’ve had an interest for some time, but it was maybe 10 years ago that I started to take more interest, attend the races more often, and start to develop my handicapping skills,” he explained.

“About three years ago I stepped up my activity even more, including trying to become an even better handicapper,” Taillon continued.  “I’m still kind of a plodder when it comes to betting, in spite of the impression given by my hit on the 10-cent superfecta to win at South Beloit.

“But I will attest that playing in these handicapping contests has served to improve my overall handicapping and betting, not just my contest play” stated Taillon, echoing a theme we have heard from a growing number of contest players.  “The key to success is to do what one should always be doing, such things as handicapping thoroughly ahead of time, knowing the races you are interested in and those you aren’t, determining the appropriate wagering strategy for a race, and managing your money accordingly.

“And by improving my handicapping and betting, I’m now going to Las Vegas to play in a big tournament with big prize money, the Coast Casinos World Series (estimated first prize:  $300,000),” Taillon continued.  “I’ll be going with other successful handicappers I’ve come to know through the Tour handicapping contests, people like Dave Sellner, Dan Pavlik, Mike Rusovick, Tom Hausheer, and more.

“I want to add that there are many other Tour players who did a heck of a job at points in the Tour, and are just as deserving of winning their way to Las Vegas as I am,” admitted Taillon graciously.  “I won’t mention names, but I fully expect to see a bunch of those people go on next spring’s Tour and win their way to Las Vegas in 2011, and deservedly so.”

Taillon is referring to Arlington’s spring, 2010, OTB Parlor Tour featuring handicapping seminars and contests.  There will be a Saturday series much like the spring, 2010, series with details to be announced after the first of the year.

Below are the final standings for the fall, 2009, OTB Parlor Tour handicapping contest series.  Only accounts with a positive balance are shown.  The eight weekly winners of a trip to Las Vegas to play in the World Series are highlighted.  For finishing first in the final standings without having won a weekly contest, Taillon is awarded the consistency prize.

You will be glad to know that Arlington will be offering a spring OTB Parlor Tour starting soon.  Plans are being finalized but at this point we can state that the schedule and the features will be very similar to the 2009 Tours.  Block out the Saturdays in the spring on your calendar and watch your inbox for more information.

You don’t have to participate in our live-money handicapping contests if you come to a Tour stop, you can just partake of the other features such as the pre-race handicapping seminar.  But you should play in the contests.  They are free to enter and you are ahead almost immediately since you earn 10 Twin Spires points for every contest dollar wagered.  You win more if you finish in the top five.  And, you win a lot more if you finish first!

Don’t be deterred by the fact you may be inexperienced playing in handicapping contests.  Last year no less than six fans finished first in a weekly contest on their first attempt!  A number of other first-starters finished in the top five on their first contest try.  I urge you to go to my blog at arlingtonpark.com (http://www.arlingtonpark.com/blog/scottm).  You will be inspired.

Good handicapping!  See you when the spring Tour begins, if not soonerodgkinsHodg!!  Your turn to win may be coming, but you can’t win it unless you get in it!!!

Scott

M. Scott McMannis

Arlington Handicapper, The Chicago Sun-Times

Midwest Correspondent, The HorsePlayer Magazine

Owner/Publisher, Arlington and Hawthorne Trainer Patterns,

   and The McMannis Speed & Trip Service Weekly Newsletter

Seminar and Contest Host, Arlington Park