Track challenge may uncover undiscovered talents

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/08/2010 (5602 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If I told you you were going to bet $50 on a horse, what would you say? “Ivan, you’re nuts!” would likely be one of the kinder comments most of you would hurl at me.

But what if I also said I’m going to give you a chance to bet an imaginary $50 on a horse over and over again and maybe, just maybe, you would gain the confidence to actually bet $50 on a horse.

You might say: “Ivan, you’ve intrigued me. Keep talking.”

OK, I will. Assiniboia Downs is doing something very unusual throughout the month of August. When you come to the track, you’ll be given an entry for a contest called the $50 Challenge. It doesn’t cost you a cent to play — but it does challenge you to find the kind of horse that you think is worth a $50 bet.

If you’re right, you could win a chance to make a free $50 bet. But, more importantly, you’ll ramp up your skills in finding a big play. Let’s face it. We become complacent and usually take the path of least resistance. But we also know the great feeling we’ve had when we’ve challenged ourselves to rise above our usually low expectations.

That’s why I’m on a stage just inside the main entrance every racing night 30 minutes before post time, offering betting secrets to whomever wants to listen. I give my audience the tools to be better players and they reward me again and again when I see how thrilled they are when they apply that information to make a winning bet.

So? Satisfied with the same-old, same-old? Or are you kind of interested to see what happens when you begin entering the $50 Challenge. It starts with the Fri., Aug. 6 card at 7 p.m. and continues on the other regular race nights of Saturday and Wednesday throughout August. Is a hidden talent waiting to be uncovered?