David,

Saturday July 13, Belmont Park. One day, one track.

Belmont generally attracts enough shippers to highlight any differences in the numbers on varying circuits.

As for some of your other points, I have never heard of a contest with these criteria. The usual 'contest' rules are win bets, and there is a 'cap' on the odds. I've also heard of contests where you can play how you want (like the first one we had). A contest with 'points' instead of 'dollars reflecting payoffs' makes very little sense to me. Most contests reward abilities and skills that come into play in the selected 'event'. This contest has NOTHING to do with anything anyone does when they handicap and, if possible, even less to do with how someone will play. You use the figures to make money, not to pick short-priced horses. You don't use Rags to play favorites. Good figures by definition will help you find value. That's why we use them. I would say this contest will indicate nothing about handicapping skill or the quality of the respective products. Your comments about these criteria are total nonsense and convince me that there is much less to you than I originally thought. We all make mistakes.

I'm agreeing to your terms simply to take away your excuses. Now you will have to content yourself with past-posting your big day if you lose (again). I wouldn't put it past you to come up with some reason that Belmont was not truly indicative of something or other, but we'll see.

In sum, you came back for a second go-round (not on your home turf, of course, but then again, this contest is not really 'handicapping related' as per my comments above), you call the tune and make the rules, and you refuse to go for $500 to back your play. You should look in the mirror before you comment on anyone else's character traits or 'paranoia' -- you've got your hands full.

I say we post before midnight Friday, July 12. Let me know if this is agreeable. HP