HANDICAPPING ON THE ROAD

--Sue Finley

Early last spring, I was forwarded an email from an American man living in Paris who wanted to somehow combine handicapping and bicycle riding to raise money for retired thoroughbred racehorses.

The man, Alan Kennedy, said he had a friend, Mark Cramer, an author and bicyle enthusiast who had published both handicapping books and novels and who wanted to try out some of his methods at French racetracks, which he would reach by bicycle. Kennedy was going to accomplany him.

At the time, I was the first vice president of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. My principle occupation for them was fundraising, and since it was a rare day when someone showed up and asked if they could help you raise money, I quickly said, `yes, thank you.’

Kennedy and Cramer prepare for their journey in Paris

Mark and Alan’s idea was that they would pedal a few hundred kilometers for the cause. What they didn’t know was that I may well be the world’s biggest Tour de France fan. I spend three weeks every July glued to the Versus network, catching the 8 a.m. preview, 8:30 - 11 a.m. live coverage, 2-5 p.m. recap and then the 8-11 p.m. recap...which is pretty much exactly like the 2-5 recap. I’m a little obsessed.

So I said, “You know what would really be the thing? To ride this tour during the dates of the real Tour de France, from July 3 to July 25. You could go from track to track in 21 stages, just like the riders go from town to town. People could pledge money per mile, or just make general donations.” They clearly thought I was crazy, but were also intrigued by the challenge, and wanted to do some good.

We decided that they could blog about it as they rode, and I would link the blog to a personal fundraising page that I would promote in the TDN. Putting aside fears of heart attack, heat stroke and general breakdown, they agreed to do it.

The result of this journey (aside from the thousands of dollars he raised for the TRF and a similar organization in France, La Ligue Pour la Protection de Cheval) is Cramer’s fantastic new book, Handicapping On the Road: Two men, 65 and 59, bicycle 1,000 kilometers to 13 race tracks to save discarded Thoroughbreds, testing seven exciting betting methods along the way.

The book is divided into two sections; the first, on the handicapping methods he features, and the second on the travelogue aspect and real-life betting stories of the trip. (Spoiler: he paid for the entire trip with his winning bets.)

Mark at Longchamp

The forward to the book is inspiring. Writes Cramer, “Using animals for entertainment and then sending them off to slaughter seemed as much an attack on our own humanity as it was the ultimate abuse of animals...Race fans feel rightful outrage and deep sadness when an equine athlete breaks down on the track. That’s because we see when it happens. But no one sees what happens to hard-knocking working-class Thoroughbreds when they disappear from the barns.”

The finish line at Compiegne

Cramer’s handicapping books are some of the most highly acclaimed in the industry. It has been a personal honor to come to know him and Alan, and I look forward to seeing them both in France this July, when we can watch the daily Tour coverage together over a nice glass of Bordeaux.

In the meantime, I highly recommend Handicapping on the Road, available here:
http://www.altiplanopublications.com/ontheroad.htm