Here we go again. As things stand now (Monday afternoon), there will be no simulcast wagering on the Preakness Stakes or any other races from Pimlico in Florida this weekend.

The lingering dispute over a purse contract between Calder and its horsemen has led counterparts at Pimlico, home of the Preakness, as well as Churchill Downs, Delaware, River Downs, Thistledown, Beulah Park and the new Presque Isle Downs (Erie, Pa.) to refuse to allow their signal to be simulcast to Calder. Since Calder is the Florida hub, this also shuts out every other pari-mutuel in the state.

A Kentucky Derby eve truce allowed the Derby, the Kentucky Oaks and their undercards to be simulcast into Florida pari-mutuels other than Calder. However, an encore is unlikely. Tampa Bay Downs, which had a contract with its horsemen, served as the hub for betting at Gulfstream Park and other sites. However, Tampa Bay Downs has ended its season, so that option is off the table.

Calder officials have been working quietly behind the scenes to talk horsemen into lifting the ban for Preakness Day as a courtesy to horse players. Last year, Florida bettors wagered $4.6 million dollars on the Preakness card, so the horsemen in both states will be hurting themselves by losing this windfall, a substantial portion of which goes into purses.

You might see ads promoting Preakness betting at area pari-mutuels but this is more based on what happened with the Derby than the actual situation. The same ads ran before the Derby and were erroneous until the truce was negotiated.

Until you hear otherwise here or in the daily Sun-Sentinel, it would be a good idea to call first before making a special trip to any track to bet the Preakness.

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Apparently some people had trouble getting to the video poker quiz we promoted in the print version of the Sun-Sentinel Friday. Sorry about that, my fault.

We were going to do our own version of a quiz by Michael Shackelford, taking his math and his situations -- with his approval. After all, he's done the math. Over and over. But then we thought if we just linked to his page, it would have the same effect for readers.

Didn't work. Lesson learned.

Anyway, the video poker quiz we're referring to is about a dozen situations, and answers on what to throw away and what to keep. Go to http://wizardofodds.com/videopoker/quiz.html

Meanwhile, you likely saw my story today about casinos and cars. Every time I was out there doing research, I swiped my card at each casino, just in case. I figured if I had won, it'd had messed up the story -- but hey, at least I'd have a car.

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More supporting evidence of how casino culture is permeating South Florida. It has become a place to take Mom on Mother's Day.

Among the options:

At Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, there is a "Stuff Your Purse" promotion, with up to $5,000 cash from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and a String of Pearls from Tiffany giveaway from, 2-6 p.m. with four winners each hour. Moms also get a free Berry Fusion Martini.

Gulfstream is giving away spa packages and jewelry, including Tiffany jewelry from 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and spa days from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

The Isle Has a Mother's Day champagne brunch for $19.99 which includes a free family portrait.

Mardi Gras has brunch and dinner specials, and is giving all moms a rose and a free dessert.

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Actuary Michael Shackelford, also known as “The Wizard of Odds,” offers video poker and other gambling advice on his web site www.wizardofodds.com. And it's a step or two more advanced than the info I had in today's gambling section.
He details video poker situations and what cards players should throw away and what they should keep.

He ran the situations through a computer to determine the best percentage play, based on playing “Jacks or Better” machines and the accompanying pay table.

“The correct way to figure out what to do is cycle through every way the replacement cards would come up and take an average what to win. There’s no practical way to do that with a pen and paper; there’s computer programs that do that for you,” he said.

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Organizers of the World Series of Poker had a press conference last week, and spelled out some of the particulars of their format change. If you haven't heard, the WSOP is going to play the main event down to nine players, give them all ninth-place money, then invite them back in November, when they will tape it all for TV, with a one-day turnaround.

Their main quote: "Instead of who won, you'll be asking 'who will win.?'" Also, that the event will now have 117 days of buildup.

It also noted that:

The WSOP has address the unsportsmanlike conduct rule and has tightened the rules on abusive language, though no specifics were provided.

Cellphones must be silenced, but a player can use them as long as they're at least one table length away.

One person asked if the time span before the final playdown would give opportunity for collusion, with players making deals. The WSOP said no, that people respect the game too much.

There also will be more breaks, and the evening will end sooner, meaning no more playing until 2 a.m.

As far as reporting the results in November, there's no sequestration. You see it, you report it.
‘It will only enhance the coverage,’ ESPN says.

Another guy asked if they were worried foreign players wouldn't come back if they made the final table. Dude, what are you thinking? If I'm in that final nine, I'd swim across the ocean for a chance to play. C'mon.

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I write about the tragic injury of the filly Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby, the issues it raises for thoroughbred racing and PETA's uninformed response in my Mayo on the Side blog today.

Click here to read it.

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I wrote today about the Seminole casinos rolling out an expanded points rewards system, and it brings the question about other South Florida casinos.

Mardi Gras declined to participate, and I'm still trying to hear from Gulfstream.

But the Isle spelled out how it gives out points this way:

According to Linda Powers, Senior Director of Marketing for the isle, slots players earn a point for every $10 of coin in.

For video poker players, a point is equivalent to $20 of coin in. For racetrack players, a point is equivalent to $10 wagered. A patron earns 25 points for every hour of tracked poker play.

So that brings us to what an Isle point will get you (still working on that one, any players out there willing to help?) And as far as I know, the Isle is the only place that offers points for poker and horse racing.

Points may be redeemed for goods and services throughout the casino. During select dates, players may redeem their points for IslePlay."

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Here was my Saturday dream scenario: Hit the trifecta on the Kentucky Derby, then celebrate with a budget-busting dinner at Mark’s Las Olas.

Oh well, so much for that.

Mark’s abruptly closed its Fort Lauderdale flagship restaurant on Thursday, a loss to South Florida foodies who’ve long admired chef Mark Militello.

And Kentucky Derby betting in South Florida remains up in the air because of an ongoing dispute between thoroughbred owners/trainers and Calder Race Course.

There could be an 11th-hour change today or tomorrow. But as of now no bets will be taken on any races from Churchill Downs (including today’s Kentucky Oaks) at Calder or other local simulcast outlets, including Gulfstream Park, the Isle Casino at Pompano Park, Dania Jai-Alai or Palm Beach Kennel Club. (FYI, I just got an email blast at 1 p.m. from Dania saying betting is back on. //Nick Sortal)

(UPDATE: As of 12:15 p.m. Friday, I just got word that Gulfstream Park and Magna Entertainment had cut a separate deal with Churchill Downs allowing Gulfstream to simulcast the Derby card on Saturday. It is unclear if this is legal, since thoroughbred simulcasting within 60 miles of a Florida track running a live race meet usually has to come from the live track's "hub." It is unclear if Gulfstream's move will prompt legal challenges from the local horsemen or competing tracks).

The closest sure-thing simulcast outlet to bet the Derby card is the Naples dog track in Bonita Springs, across Alligator Alley, about a 90-minute drive from South Florida.

For bettors, Derby Day is the holiest day of the year, with Breeders’ Cup day right behind.

Getting shut out of the action because of intra-industry squabbling only leads to frustration and alienation.

The confusion surrounding the Derby situation will make things worse. Gulfstream Park had an advertisement in today’s sports section saying it would take bets on the Kentucky Derby. If that’s not the case, bettors who make the trip have every right to be angry.

I’m going to be real miffed if Bsharpsonata wins today’s Kentucky Oaks for fillies, or if Pyro wins the Derby, because that’s where my money was going to go.

Feel free to share your picks below.

With no betting available, this will be strictly for posterity’s (not prosperity’s) sake.

AP Photo (2007)

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Dania Jai-Alai is among the places that will not be able to hold simulcast betting for the Kentucky Derby Saturday.

As our Tom Jicha wrote in Friday's sports section, a snag between horsement and management at Calder has effectively blacked out betting on the race at South Florida parimutuel sites.

But as Dania correctly points out, it can still show the race. You just can't bet on it.

Small consolation.

Other places, such as the Isle and Palm Beach Kennel had promotions planned. I haven't put in calls to them, but I'd bet they're scratching their heads over what to do now.

Meanwhile, it's just another punch to parimutuels trying to keep up with a high state tax and a public that can take its entertainment dollar elsewhere. Not a good turn of events if you like to gamble in South Florida.

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Those days of knowing the result of the World Series of Poker in July, then waiting for the ESPN telecast in November are over. The WSOP is playing down to its final nine in July, then waiting three months to play the final table down and air it quickly on TV.

The last nine players of the $10,000 World Championship of No-Limit Texas Hold’em, known as the Main Event, will compete on Nov. 9-10 instead of the originally scheduled date of July 16, the WSOP announced today.

"Our intent is to provide an even bigger stage for our players," said Jeffrey Pollack, Commissioner of the World Series of Poker, in a news release. (Nick's comment: And make more money. C'mon. Fess up. OK, back to the release...)

All other 2008 WSOP tournament structures and schedules remain unchanged. This announcement affects only the final nine players of Event No. 54, the Main Event World Championship.

"This is a huge step forward for poker and more specifically poker on television because it will help create more buzz around the final table and that is good for all of us,” said Daniel Negreanu, a three-time bracelet winner.

The 39th annual World Series of Poker will take place from May 30th to July 14th at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The Main Event will begin on July 3, with the Final Table being determined on July 14. The nine players who advance to the Final Table will return to the Rio on Nov. 9 to play down to just two players. The final two will go head-to-head late in the evening on Nov. 10, the release said.

The winner of the Main Event is expected to be crowned in the early hours of Nov. 11. ESPN will edit the two-day final table action and televise it in from 9-11 p.m. that night.

ESPN will begin its coverage of the 2008 World Series of Poker on July 22. Viewers will see two hours of original poker programming every Tuesday through Nov. 11. Telecasts will be aired at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. July 22 through Sept. 30 and at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. from Oct. 7 through Nov. 11.

Each of the players who make it to the WSOP Main Event Final Table will receive ninth place prize money on July 14, when the finalists are determined. Harrah’s will then provide each of those players with a trip for two for their return to Las Vegas in November to play the final portion of the tournament.

The release points out that from July 14 to Nov. 9, players will have an opportunity to line up sponsorships, coaches, review the play of all their competitors, participate in other tournaments, and take advantage of the new publicity and promotional opportunities.

My angle on this: I really, really need a local to make the final table (can you say Fred Goldberg?), so I can talk editors into a Vegas trip in November to cover our local.

And, if you're playing in the WSOP, send me an email. I'm compiling a list.

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