Columnist Ralph Siraco: Las Vegan wins $384,500 in handicapping contest

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Jan. 31, 2005 | 9:41 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.

Horse players from all over the country converged on the Orleans hotel-casino over the weekend for the first -- and what is sure to be annual -- Horseplayer World Series, a three-day test of handicapping talents. They came from qualifiers at race tracks, simulcast centers and other Coast Casinos contests and tournaments throughout the year for a chance at the biggest prize fund in the history of handicapping tournaments for equine punters.

In the end, the winner traveled approximately five miles due east from the sprawling casino complex to take the record winner's share of $384,500.

Michael Ray drove from his Rhodes Ranch residence to play in a July qualifying tournament at Coast Casinos and parlayed a 14th-place finish there into the World Series big bucks. Ray, 58, has been a fan of racing since he was a youngster. His dad took him to Saratoga race course at the tender age of 8 in 1954 from their native Albany, N.Y., and Ray has been a racing fan ever since, missing the Saratoga meetings only when serving in the military.

Although he was successful as a CPA, Ray ventured into the health care and nursing business while taking vacations to Las Vegas two to three times a year. About three years ago, Michael sold his businesses and retired to Las Vegas because he liked the weather and the opportunity to play more than just New York races through the simulcasting that Las Vegas race books offered. With the help of some close friends who shared his passion for equine betting action, Ray applied his handicapping techniques to the California circuit.

Among the 768 tournament players who anted up the $1,000 entry fee, Ray came with the same strategy that he uses during a day at the races -- looking for solid long shots.

In Thursday's opening round, Ray amassed only 580 dollar points based on the 11 daily tournament bets, which consisted of $20 win and place increments with caps after the first $2 win/place at full track odds. He was sitting in 254th place after Day 1. The leader, Robert O'Shea, racked up an incredible 2,566 dollar points on a day when tournament tracks yielded 13 horses that paid off with winning mutuels of more than $20, one at $120.

Friday's Round 2 had only four horses that paid above the $20 range as tournament players were picking at the bones from the carcass of bombs of Thursday. Ray stepped up his production with 632 dollar points for a two-day total of 1,212 that moved him into 130th place while the leader padded his top spot by only 422 dollar points to end the day at 2,988.

Saturday's Round 3 featured the best races at major tracks from coast to coast. Included in those were the Sunshine Millions events from Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita. Playing the same way, Ray struck first with a modest 11-1 shot. Then the equine scuds started falling again. Ray reeled off a 35-1 winner followed by a victory by Red Warrior in a Sunshine Millions upset at Santa Anita at 45-1. Ray would finish the day with trio of runner-up plays for a third-day total of 2,066 dollar points.

While the final tallies were calculated and audited, Ray drove home to pick up his wife to join friends for dinner. He said he told his wife, "I'm cashing; I think I finished in the top five." As he returned to the Orleans he was greeted by those dinner friends who told him he was picking up the check. One after another told him the good news.

All Ray could think of was the line from the movie "Let It Ride" -- "I'm having a good day," he said.

Although the six-figure winnings won't change his life, Ray said it will add to his retirement security.

On Sunday morning, after the initial excitement, Ray reflected on the moment. His advice is to play the tournaments with friends. The exchange of handicapping, plays and stories during the three-day confab will carry way beyond the money. The camaraderie of the event made the memories that will last him and all who played the tournament a lifetime.

The big bucks, however, are probably running a close second.