Avid racing fans probably know this but for those who want to see and bet on Big Brown in Saturday's Belmont Stakes, there will be no hinderances.

The dispute between Calder and horsemen, which denied Calder the Kentucky Derby and placed Preakness betting in doubt until the 11th hour, will have no impact on the Belmont.

Calder has been taking bets on NY races without interruption and will do so on Saturday. In fact, those who want to bet on Saturday's Belmont Stakes will be able to do it starting Friday.

Standard admission and parking charges will be in effect ($3 grandstand, $5 clubhouse).

Gulfstream Park and Palm Beach Kennel Club also are able to offer full-card simulcasting from New York.

Jai Alai frontons and dog tracks, which offer thoroughbred betting after 6 p.m., also will be able to take bets on the Belmont starting Friday, since post time for the third jewel of the Triple Crown is about 6:15 Saturday.

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How bad are the stripped down Marlins going to be this season? Just about the worst in baseball, according to an offshore gambling site, Bookmaker.com, which puts its money behind its opinions.

The first estimates of the regular season win totals have been posted and the Marlins over/under is 68 1/2 wins. In other words, if you bet over, they have to win 69. If you go under, they can win no more than 68. (They won 71 last season.)

The Pittsburgh Pirates also are at 68 1/2. No team in the National League is lower. The Baltimore Orioles have the distinction of bottoming out both leagues at 65 wins.

As usual, the Yankees are Red Sox have the highest totals, 94 wins. The Mets are high in the National League at 92 1/2.

If you are a hopeless dreamer, you can get 35-1 that the Marlins will win the National League East, 65-1 that they will capture the National League pennant and 100-1 that the team will take its third World Series.

If you are so inclined (delusional), go for the 35-1 on the division. The Marlins would then have to go into three post-season series to win it all. Trust me, they would be substantial underdogs in each.

Let's say you bet $100. Your division return would be $3,600.

Even if you had to take even-money in the first playoff series, and take your original $100 out, this would net you $7,000. Same thing in round two would bring back $14,000. Double up on the Series and you could win $28,000. The actually parlay figure would probably be as much as $50K.

This is a lot better than 100-1 on a $100 World Series bet, which would net only $10,100.

(Obligatory disclaimer: betting through offshore websites is against the law.)

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