I chose to witness the annual Virginia Derby from the prime spot in the house as the remnants of Hurricane Ida approached the state borders.
Due to the potential storms and absence of a dog-sitter on Tuesday, I decided against visiting the grandstands at Colonial Downs in New Kent for the afternoon horse races.
Instead, I settled comfortably onto my couch, a considerable 2.5 hours away from the excitement, ready for a day filled with horse betting. Fortunately, I had an abundance of betting options conveniently accessible with just a click, courtesy of the TVG horse betting app.
The positive aspect? Throughout the 11 races held at Colonial Downs, I encountered no difficulties in placing a total of 34 diverse bets.
The unfortunate news is that I only managed to win one of them.
Betting on the Virginia Derby
When it comes to horse racing, I have some experience under my belt. Years ago, I made my first legal bets at Scioto Downs and Lebanon Raceway, both located in my home state of Ohio.
In my late teens, my father and I had a tradition of attending the horse races once or twice every summer. We would place modest $2 bets, enjoy inexpensive hot dogs, and use the thrill of harness racing as a backdrop to reconnect and share stories about our lives.
Tuesday marked an important day as Virginia’s abbreviated summer racing season reached its conclusion, with the second-to-last race day of the year. The spotlight was on the Grade 3, $250,000 Virginia Derby, which consistently takes the title of the grandest horse race in the state.
Nevertheless, it was merely a single race amidst the 11 scheduled for that day, and my intention was to place bets on each one of them.
Unlike my initial visits to the racetrack alongside my father, I delved into more complex forms of betting. In addition to the basic win, place, and show bets, I experimented with exactas, trifectas, and even threw in a superfecta just to spice things up. To ensure I fully comprehended these betting techniques, I took the initiative to research and understand the terms involved, resorting to a quick Google search.
Additionally, I took the time to explore the recommendations provided by experts. I attentively followed the race analysts on TVG as they evaluated the contenders. In fact, I even attempted to decipher the racing form and select a few horses based on my own judgment.
All the preparations I did before the race ended up being completely worthless.
Betting on horses at TVG
I chose to place my bets for the Virginia Derby online through TVG. This is a legitimate horse betting application and streaming service that is accessible to residents of Virginia.
TVG is a site for advanced-deposit wagering (ADW), where customers must initially deposit funds into their accounts before being allowed to place bets.
Aside from placing bets on races at Colonial Downs and other tracks streamed from around the world, you can also enjoy live race coverage within the app. Interestingly, the app’s Colonial Downs feed often mirrored the primary TVG television station, which is conveniently accessible through my Xfinity cable lineup here in central Virginia.
Naturally, had I been present at Colonial Downs, I would have had the opportunity to not only make bets there but also at the nearby Rosie’s Gaming Emporium. Virginia boasts four HHR parlors, which double as OTB facilities.
However, Tuesday proved to be the most convenient day for horseplayers. Regrettably, it also became the most unfavorable day for winning.
I allocated $100 for the day’s activities, with the intention of either doubling it or depleting it completely. During Race 10, known as the 18th running of the Virginia Derby, jockey Jose Ortiz skillfully led horse Wootton Asset to victory in the winner’s circle. Wootton Asset surpassed It Can Be Done and Slicked Back on the 1 1/8-mile turf course, completing the race in 1:46.79.
The race at Colonial Downs led to a track record-breaking $4.8 million in betting handle, surpassing the previous record by $400,000.
I refrained from placing a wager on Wootton Asset. Furthermore, I abstained from betting on any of the victorious contenders from earlier today.
- Flippant to compete in the $150,000 Woodford Reserve Virginia Oaks.
- Trust Our Journey: Rosie’s Stakes – $100,000.
- The Old Nelson Stakes, with a prize of $150,000, was won by Tuned.
My sole successful bet happened during Race 7, where Epic Luck triumphed in the $100,000 Kitten’s Joy Stakes, securing me $17.40 from my $2 wager. Unfortunately, this was the only victory amidst a disappointing afternoon where I ended up losing my entire $100 investment.
Clearly, I am not skilled at picking ponies.
Pros and cons of horse betting on TVG
Although I am tempted to attribute my poor betting luck to TVG, I must acknowledge that the app operated smoothly. Funding my account through PayPal was a swift and effortless process.
Placing a bet on TVG is incredibly straightforward. Simply locate your preferred track, identify the desired race, and proceed to make your bet.
Initially, the immense quantity of information may feel a bit daunting. Nevertheless, as you delve deeper into studying the TVG race pages, you gradually comprehend the straightforward sophistication of the layout.
There are several advantages of betting at TVG:
- Sign me up for the convenience of avoiding a 150-mile drive, skipping lines at betting windows, making instant wagers, all without the need to wear pants!
- The TVG app offers a plethora of valuable information to assist you in handicapping races, despite the overwhelming volume of data available.
- Experience live races from all the prominent tracks through live video feeds, regardless of whether you are placing bets or not.
- There are numerous betting options available as you can place bets on various tracks, resulting in a new race commencing every few minutes. However, if you find yourself confined to a single track, your betting opportunities are restricted to approximately two races per hour.
Here are a few disadvantages of betting at TVG:
- While I appreciate the convenience of TVG, the experience of watching a horse race on TV lacks the exhilaration of being present in person. The on-site buzz and atmosphere that TVG fails to capture make all the difference.
- Feeling the need for speed? A visit to the racetrack is typically a delightful way to unwind, offering occasional bursts of excitement. However, when watching TVG, it becomes nearly impossible to overlook the fact that a fresh race is commencing every few minutes. Consequently, the fear of missing out (FOMO) might inject an extra dose of frenzy into your typically relaxed betting experience.
- Distractions are abundant, with the multitude of betting options, track choices, and overwhelming data. It’s effortless to become engrossed in them, causing you to unwittingly overlook the race you had just placed a bet on.
If you can’t go to the track, TVG is the next best option. Although you’ll miss out on the ambience, it’s not always a negative thing if you’ve been to tracks and witnessed the crowds.
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