{"id":84657,"date":"2021-05-03T16:26:47","date_gmt":"2021-05-03T16:26:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandbox.web.rcn.net\/rcntv\/?p=84657"},"modified":"2023-04-25T14:30:06","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T14:30:06","slug":"run-roses-dollars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/run-roses-dollars\/","title":{"rendered":"Run For the Roses\/Dollars"},"content":{"rendered":"

The views expressed in this blog are<\/em> those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Let me preface my blog by saying I DID NOT bet on the Kentucky Derby<\/a>.\u00a0 Also, I have never placed a bet on any online betting site.\u00a0 Suffice it to say, it is not because I am unaware of how to do it.\u00a0 How could I be?\u00a0 Is it my imagination or is every other commercial on TV these days an enticement to get you to gamble online?\u00a0 The ads make it look so easy.<\/p>\n

Draftking, Parx Casino, Fanduel, BetMGM, and BetRivers are just some of the sportsbooks available to anyone who wants to place a bet from the comfort of their couch.\u00a0 This practice has always sounded very, very dangerous to me.\u00a0 Since gambling is both fun and adrenalin-pumping, doing it on my phone and in my house seems as easy as grabbing some beverage and chips.\u00a0 I do not believe either activity is good for you.<\/p>\n

This Saturday, like millions of others, I watched the \u201crun for the roses\u201d – the Kentucky Derby.\u00a0 A once-a-year horse race, obviously the most popular in the US, is the perfect enticement for an average person to lay down a few dollars just to create a bit more interest.\u00a0 Known as \u201cthe fastest two minutes in sports\u201d and costing just $2 to place a bet, it is the perfect combination to watch the race, get your heart pumping, and scream at your TV as the horses come down the home stretch.<\/p>\n

I can also assume it is a mecca for gamblers.\u00a0 Take the case of Jim McIngvale who is the founder of Gallery Furniture and known as \u201cMattress Mack\u201d.\u00a0 He placed $2.4 million on Essential Quality to win the race.\u00a0 Essential Quality was the favorite with 3-1 odds.\u00a0 Ironically, it was the massive wager by McIngvale that created the low odds.\u00a0 His reasoning for such a large bet was because he had offered to a free mattress to any of his customers who purchased a $3,000 or more mattress if his horse won.\u00a0 His horse did not win.\u00a0 In fact, the horse did not even finish in the money \u2013 Essential Quality was fourth.<\/p>\n

Medina Spirit won the Kentucky Derby.\u00a0 The horse was a big underdog at 12-1 odds.\u00a0 If you bet $2 on him, you would have won $26.20.\u00a0 If \u201cMattress Mack\u201d would have bet on that horse with similar odds (even though I know the odds would have been less with his money on the horse), he stood to win $14.4 million.<\/p>\n

Medina Spirit was a great story.\u00a0 He was a huge underdog, took the lead from the very beginning (normally a sure sign that the horse would lose), and held on to the very end.\u00a0 That\u2019s right \u2013 wire to wire.\u00a0 It was trainer Bob Baffert\u2019s seventh Derby winner, the most of any trainer in the 147-year history of the race.\u00a0 Baffert was honest afterward that he never thought his horse would win.\u00a0 The story gets better when you realize the horse was purchased for around $1,000 and sold to the current owner for $35,000.\u00a0 By winning the Kentucky Derby, Medina Spirit won $1.86 million.<\/p>\n

That is a lot of roses!!<\/p>\n

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The Eagles<\/a> appear to have had a good draft. They got a quality wide receiver, offensive lineman, a cornerback, a running back, a defensive tackle, and a defensive end.\u00a0 By position, these were necessary picks \u2013 let\u2019s hope that the personnel filling those spots prove to be worthy.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. If the trend continues, the Phillies<\/a> can win or lose half their games and still finish in first place in the National League East. As I write this, they are 13-13 and currently in first place.\u00a0 That seems like a rather low bar to me.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. As I write this, the 76ers<\/a> have nine games left in the regular season (72 games this year as opposed to the normal 82). They are \u00bd game behind the Brooklyn Nets<\/a>.\u00a0 Winning the division could prove to be huge.\u00a0 They do not play the Nets again.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. Congratulations to Jevin Muniz, Brendan Boyle, Tyson Thomas, and Liam Joyce. All were named to the Pennsylvania All-State basketball first team.\u00a0 Central Catholic<\/a> coach Dennis Csensits was named Coach of the Year.\u00a0 This is exceptional representation from our area.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n
          1. I will be attending a press conference this week concerning tickets for the US Senior Open<\/a> for 2022 at the Saucon Valley Country Club<\/a>. The dates are June 20-26, 2022. Hopefully, we should be able to enjoy this great event with no restrictions.\u00a0 Mark your calendar.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company. 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