Colonial Downs (a)

Abstract

In this case, the protagonist is trying to decide which of the three horses running in the final race of the day at Colonial Downs horseracing track to bet on. He has $10 to bet, not enough to affect the odds in the track's pari-mutuel wagering system given the total amount of money being wagered. Data on each of the horse's previous 10 races is provided, including date, type of track, condition of track, jockey weight, and days of rest since previous race. Can this data help him make a decision? Excerpt UVA-QA-0590 Rev. Apr. 10, 2013 COLONIAL DOWNS (A) If you bet on a horse, that's gambling. If you bet you can make three spades, that's entertainment. If you bet cotton will go up three points, that's business. See the difference? —Anonymous Danny Noonan sat in his seat at Colonial Downs horseracing track on a beautiful mid-September afternoon. Noonan checked his wallet and found that an afternoon of corn dogs, soft drinks, and ice cream had left him with a measly $ 10. He decided to wager it on a horse in the final race of the day, which was set to begin shortly. Noonan knew that with only three horses running, his chances of picking the winner were good. He also knew that the racing information sheet he held in his hand provided valuable data that he might be able to use to improve his chances of picking the winning horse. He wondered about which horse he should bet on. . . .