May The Horse Be With You

Jeb Clampett · Post by **Jeb Clampett** » 16 years ago

CONTEST OVER

Thanks to all who participated! I hope a good time was had by all.

Points should be distributed to the winners within the nest few days. Let me know (PM) if you don't get them.
The winners:
Leonard Beagle
Peter Gleason
Sean Furney
Bill Deitch
Gary Cooper
Jack Johns
Kenneth Gordon
Ace Hawkblade
Cleo Patra
Eric Hamme
Ramey Furney

The questions:
ANSWERED 1. Harvey developed two non-serious handicapping systems to amuse the casual racetrack attendee. They were the Holy Ghost and the Ecuador. The Ecuador was that if a rider won two races during a day, he would most likely win a third. What was the Holy Ghost?
-- Horse #3 is likely to win the 3rd race.
-- Any trainer that won twice during a day was more than likely to win a third time.
YES Any program number that won twice during a day was likely to win a third time.- answered by Leonard Beagle
-- If a favorite wins in two races in a row, bet the favorite in the next race.
ANSWERED 2. Why did Harvey’s then wife-to-be miss her college senior prom?
YES She chose to go with him to a big day of racing. - answered by Peter Gleason
NOT She caught a bad cold going to the races with Harvey.
-- Harvey stood her up at the last minute to attend a big day of racing.
-- She lost her dress money at the races.
ANSWERED 4. Which two horses does Harvey view as the best two horses he’s ever seen?
NOT Swaps and Dark Star
YES Citation and Stymie - answered by SeanF
-- Seabiscuit and Man O’War
NOT Alydar and Affirmed
ANSWERED 5. As part of a promotion, Belmont had various entertainments. For one famous singer, in addition to a free concert, the track was giving away 1,000 albums to the first 1,000 fans. Harvey said on TV: “If you can get here ahead of the mutuel clerks, you can get a free album.” (The mutuel clerks were not at all happy with that crack.) Who was the singer?
NOT Billy Joel
-- Dolly Parton
NOT Bob Dylan
YES Tony Bennett - answered by Bill Deitch
ANSWERED 6. What was the topic of Harvey’s senior project for his public-speaking class in college?
-- How to handicap the Kentucky Derby
-- Why New York State should have Sunday racing
YES How to read the Racing Form - answered by Gary Cooper
-- How to sneak into Saratoga Race Course
ANSWERED 8. One of Harvey’s guests on Pack at the Track criticized a particular jockey’s ride. Many jockeys were furious over one of their own being criticized and sent a rather vicious letter to the critic, which was discussed later on the show. Harvey reports that he was frequently asked how he knew that the letter was actually from the jockeys. He always said that it was easy. How did Harvey claim to know jockeys wrote the letter?
YES The letter had Aqueduct misspelled. - answered by Kenneth Gordon
-- The letter smelled like horse manure.
-- The letter started slow, but had a great closing.
-- The letter stated that the critic should be given the whip.
ANSWERED 9. The Psychics’ Challenge was a six-race handicapping competition pitting 3 handicappers against 3 psychics (one of whom was Uri Geller). Contest winner was to be the one who won the most money using only win bets. Nobody picked the winner in the first five races. Only one contestant correctly picked the winner of the 6th race, thus winning the contest. Who won and how?
--The contest was won by a psychic picking a long shot.
NOT The contest was won by a psychic picking a favorite.
--The contest was won by a handicapper picking a long shot.
YES The contest was won by a handicapper picking a favorite. - answered by Kenneth Gordon
ANSWERED 10. Why at the end of each show of Pack at the Track did Harvey throw the program at the camera?
NOT As a signal to his wife that he was thinking of her.
YES As a symbol that though the day was over, there would be a new program tomorrow. - answered by AceHawkblade and Cleo Patra (dead heat)
NOT He picked up the gesture from Keith Olbermann.
-- To show his disappointment at all his wrong picks.

Previously answered questions: (listed in the order in which answers were posted)
7. What four major tracks merged to form the NYRA (New York Racing Association)? - answered by Eric Hamme
3. Harvey tells of going to the track with an actor (not the star) of a TV comedy. As the actor was tearing up his losing tickets, a horseplayer walked up to him and said “Sorry about that, Chief.” Who was the actor and what part did he play in what TV series? - answered by RameyF

Ronnie Dee · Post by **Ronnie Dee** » 16 years ago

The Daily Racing Form web site has an excerpt from this book <a href='http://www.drf.com/promotions/email/images/packbook.pdf' target='_blank'>here</a>.

Eric Hamme · Post by **Eric Hamme** » 16 years ago

7. Aqueduct, Saratoga, Jamaica, Belmont

Rule No. 1: Every time the starting gate opens, expect to be humbled.
I was the oldest guy in basic training at Fort Dix in 1953, about six years older than everybody else. Because I was older, I had a little bit of status among the guys. Not much, this is me we’re talking about, but a little. I told everyone in the barracks that I was a horseplayer and I loved going to the track. I probably made more of it than I should have. The other guys would listen to my stories about the track all the time.

Jeb Clampett · Post by **Jeb Clampett** » 16 years ago

We have our first winner. Congratulations, Eric!

Bill Deitch · Post by **Bill Deitch** » 16 years ago

Here is my guess:

#3.) Don Adams, Maxwell Smart, Get Smart

"At this point I'm convinced that Warren is serious. I realize that this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And while I had never done this before, now I have to convince Captain Rhett that this horse is worth betting on and that he needs to lend me the money to bet it myself."

Jeb Clampett · Post by **Jeb Clampett** » 16 years ago

Bill Deitch wrote:Here is my guess:

#3.) Don Adams, Maxwell Smart, Get Smart

"At this point I'm convinced that Warren is serious. I realize that this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And while I had never done this before, now I have to convince Captain Rhett that this horse is worth betting on and that he needs to lend me the money to bet it myself."

Sorry. This answer is close, but not correct. (Hint, note that in question #3, I state that the actor is not the star of the series.) Question is still open, so try again!

Ramey Furney · Post by **Ramey Furney** » 16 years ago

3. Harvey tells of going to the track with an actor (not the star) of a TV comedy. As the actor was tearing up his losing tickets, a horseplayer walked up to him and said “Sorry about that, Chief.” Who was the actor and what part did he play in what TV series?

Answer: Edward Platt played the Chief of Control

Quote:
"Some days you don't want to go to work. Watch the warm-ups. Maybe your selection feels the same way."

edited to add Get Smart as the name of the show

Jeb Clampett · Post by **Jeb Clampett** » 16 years ago

RameyF wrote:3. Harvey tells of going to the track with an actor (not the star) of a TV comedy. As the actor was tearing up his losing tickets, a horseplayer walked up to him and said “Sorry about that, Chief.” Who was the actor and what part did he play in what TV series?

Answer: Edward Platt played the Chief of Control

Quote:
"Some days you don't want to go to work. Watch the warm-ups. Maybe your selection feels the same way."

Correct! Another winner! Congratulations, RameyF.

Leonard Beagle · Post by **Leonard Beagle** » 16 years ago

Well, I've googled til I can Google no more. I can't find an answer to any of the remaining questions. I guess I'll have to go out and buy this book.

I'm sure it's worth the read....

Leo

Jeb Clampett · Post by **Jeb Clampett** » 16 years ago

Sorry about the excessive Googling (though I'll bet you learned some really interesting things). The book really is an enjoyable read! However, to hopefully cut down on frustration once you do get your hands on a copy, I have added page numbers to the questions on the original post. As noted, these are not, in most cases, exact references. Instead they are up to 5 pages (randomly) before the start of the answer. Hope this helps.

Leonard Beagle · Post by **Leonard Beagle** » 16 years ago

Jeb Clampett wrote: Sorry about the excessive Googling (though I'll bet you learned some really interesting things).

You know, I don't really mind the googling....as you said, I did learn some interesting things I NEVER would have learned.

I did, however, find a description of the Holy Ghost Handicapping System, but no mention of the Ecuador.

No apologies to me, I'm having fun!

Leo

Jeb Clampett · Post by **Jeb Clampett** » 16 years ago

Check out the new and improved contest!

Sean Furney · Post by **Sean Furney** » 16 years ago

Which two horses does Harvey view as the best two horses he’s ever seen?

Alydar and Affirmed

Sean Furney

Jeb Clampett · Post by **Jeb Clampett** » 16 years ago

SeanF wrote:Which two horses does Harvey view as the best two horses he’s ever seen?

Alydar and Affirmed

Sean Furney

Not right, but a smart guess. Try again after 11:50 game time.

Jeb Clampett · Post by **Jeb Clampett** » 16 years ago

Cleo Patra wrote:4. Which two horses does Harvey view as the best two horses he’s ever seen?
-- Swaps and Dark Star

Good guess, but still not right. Try again after 12:32 game time.