By Track Historian Bob Gates
… at least that’s what they say, and who exactly are “they?” Even AI – Overview wasn’t much help.
“There isn’t a single person credited with originally saying “records are made to be broken” it’s a common sentiment that various athletes and public figures have expressed, such as Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, and Michael Schumacher, reflecting the idea that pushing boundaries is inherent to sports and human achievement.”
Other figures credited with using the phrase include Mark Spitz, Richard Branson and “Red” Auerbach. So maybe the phrase has been uttered so many times, by so many people, for so long that perhaps, “they” is truly the best we got.
If you think about it, doesn’t there come a time when a record is etched in stone? While not horse racing related, there are many sports milestones that appear to be unbreakable. These include:
Wilt Chamberlain: 100 points in a single game
Wayne Gretzky: 2,857 career points and 1,963 career assists
Nolan Ryan: 5,714 career strikeouts
Where do the mutuel payouts at Assiniboia Downs rank? Let’s look at the existing Downs records for Win, Place, Show, Quinella, Exactor and Daily Double to see how they stack up.
I feel I should apologize for the statistical nature of this week’s history piece. If you find this one a tad dry, please hang in there. On the up-side, you might even be one of the lucky few that held one of the winning tickets on these “Bombs Away” horses.
I want to thank Simulcast & Program Director, Sheri Glendinning for coming up with nearly a quarter-century of mutuel payoff stats. Don’t be fooled by Sheri’s title, it’s quite a misnomer. Whether its during “live” or the off-season, there isn’t anything around the Downs that she hasn’t done, and she’s constantly helping out with what has to be my “annoying” requests for assistance.
So, let’s get to it, shall we? Here are the record mutuel prices at the Downs:
Highest $2 Win: May 31,1986 Canadian Border $474.20
Since 2002 the next highest Win payouts:
2023 Hey Hey Run Away $164.40
2020 Double Time $127.60
2019 Sheer Prince $122.70
Highest $2 Place: July 31, 1965 Mid Strome $242.00
Texas Colonel beats Mid Strome on July 31, 1965 creating a $242 Place ticket (Bob Barnes)
Since 2002 the next highest Place payouts:
2008 Ireta $116.90
2019 Sheer Prince $86.40
2012 Trick or Bluff $77.30
Highest $2 Show: September 24, 2011 Oxford City Slew $78.90
Since 2002 the next highest Show payouts:
2019 Sheer Prince $78.70
2005 Copper Kid $73.10
2014 Perfect Position $67.10
Based on the last quarter-century of racing, the Win & Place records appear untouchable. However, the Show price is another matter. “Bridge Jumper” bets are becoming more common and should a favourite run out of the money with a bucket-full of “Bridge Jumper” cash bet on it, the stage could be set for another record Show payout.
Who Knew? Gary Danelson’s Sheer Prince figured in the Win, Place and Show payouts, and we’re told Gary didn’t have any bets on Prince the day he lit up the tote board.
Sheer Prince August 2, 2019 - Lights up the tote board (Jason Halstead)
Highest $2 Quinella (prior to 2002):
August 16, 1997 Main Tain & Sam George Hill $1,086.70
Since 2002 the highest Quinella payout:
2002 Dance My Lady & Big Gun Annie $1,199.30
2007 Im Really Shining & Wendy’smegadancer $1,097.00
Yes, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. On June 23, 2002 the combination of Dance My Lady and Big Gun Annie set a new Quinella record. Thing is Elman Guttormson and Harold Loster weren’t around to tell us about the record-setting event and somehow no one else caught this little piece of history. Oh how we miss Elman and Harold! Since the Quinella isn’t being offered any longer, I think we can etch the 2002 record in stone.
Highest $2 Exactor:
May 16, 1998 Knight’s Vision & Sport’s Reward $3,514.80
Since 2002 the next highest Exactor payouts:
2002 Maries Butter Cup & Artic Sonnet $1,432.70
2007 C Jones Run & Project Turnabout $1,382.50
2005 Sweetest Tour & Golden Serpent $1,229.30
Note: Equibase Payout figures are based on a $2 wager, but in all of the above cases the Equibase payout figures exceeded the amount in the pool. So, the above figures have been adjusted to reflect a $1 wager.
History strongly supports that the May 16, 1998 Exactor payoff is likely going to last for some time.
Highest $2 Daily Double:
July 23, 1971 Royal Jerry & Seek the Glory $4,235.50
Since 2002 the next highest Daily Doubles payouts:
2017 Secret Wishes & Sheshouldbedancin $1,779.90
2006 Ruark & Star Survivor $946.85
2010 Gentleman Vye & Tel E Fone $896.65
Note: Equibase Payout figures are based on a $2 wager, but once again, in all of the above cases the Equibase payout figures exceeded the amount in the pool. So, the above figures have been adjusted to reflect a $1 wager.
The Daily Double looks like another wager where the 54 year-old record is as safe as it comes. The current Daily Double wager is very different than what was offered back in 1971, when “exotic” wagers were limited…
Just the same, doesn’t a “Bomb’s Away” horse really get the old heart racing!