Jim Roberts, a math professor at Red River College and horseplayer at Assiniboia Downs, outplayed a whopping 2,832 entrants in a free online horse-picking contest at Hollywood Park racetrack to win $5,000 (U.S.) this week. This is the biggest achievement ever by a local horseplayer, considering he was pitting his skills against seasoned experts throughout the United States and Canada.
The contest, dubbed “Show Me the Money,” required entrants to pick one horse to “show” (finish third) each day of the Hollywood race meet which began in early November. After 30 days of contest picks, the lone survivors this week were Roberts and Curtis Barbay of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Roberts won the contest when his horse won but Barbay’s horse finished fourth.
Roberts’ strategy? “I picked a small field and looked for horses ridden by top jockeys and high percentage trainers,” he said. “Workouts were important. I tried to stay away from horses showing a poor workout pattern.”
Anyone was able to register for the contest simply by visiting the Hollywood Park website and emailing a “show” pick each day. Hollywood Park is one of many North American tracks that Assiniboia Downs simulcasts daily to players in the clubhouse at the track, at off-track betting locations and on cable TV (Shaw 87, MTS 179-80).
The Hollywood Park race meet ends Sunday. Taking its place in Southern California is Santa Anita, the track that Sea Biscuit made famous, which begins its showcase meet on Boxing Day, Dec. 26. Santa Anita usually offers a similar free online contest.
More from Canadian Thoroughbred:
