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TRPB proposes tote security initiative

Posted: Thursday, December 17, 2009 6:13 PM

The Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau unveiled a tote security initiative designed to ensure that wagering ends before the start of a race.

The initiative would facilitate stop-betting across the entire pari-mutuel network at the start of every race.
 
“Stop-betting” is the time designated that no further wagering is allowed on a race. Typically, a steward pushes a button that stops wagering when the starting gate opens for a race. The time varies between racing jurisdictions.
  
The TRPB, the investigative arm of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America, said in a press release that its initiative would “end the unfounded perception of untoward betting activity currently caused by late-odds shifts,” and called it a “technically innovative and effective strategy.”
  
“The technical solution proposed by TRPB would operate on a parallel path but outside of the current inter-tote system protocol, enabling TRPB to provide independent redundancy to certain race day control functions,” the TRPB said in a press release while noting details of the technical plan remain confidential. “Additionally, wagering data collected by TRPB’s tote security devices will enable TRPB to produce and distribute real-time decimal win-odds to host tracks for video display."
  
The TRPB unveiled its strategy to the boards of directors of both the TRA and TRPB, which endorsed the development of a comprehensive business plan to launch a tote-enhancing initiative that would address fan concerns with pari-mutuel wagering and improve efficiency and security.
  
“As TRPB’s Wagering Integrity Unit has been increasingly called upon to review wagering associated with races involving some type of tote protocol communication failure, the need to proactively address these matters through the development of enhanced tote security measures is apparent,” TRPB President Frank Fabian said. “TRPB has the unique experience, expertise, and vendor relationships to fashion these advancements.”

Despite the confidentiality of the technical plan, ongoing discussions with prominent industry service providers and all four U.S.-based tote companies have been productive, Fabian said.

“Not only will TRPB’s proposed solution address current concerns, it will provide tracks and bettors with valuable real-time wagering information and a technical infrastructure capable of implementing timely changes and research and development in the future,” Fabian said.

The TRPB Wagering Analysis Unit already reviews the daily wagering for races at every TRA member track through autonomous algorithmic processing designed to identify anomalies in payoff prices, volume variance, and odds fluctuations. Any wagering activity falling outside defined parameters is scrutinized further and, if warranted, investigated by the TRPB.

The TRA and TRPB boards of directors unanimously approved and funded TRPB’s proposal to develop the TRPB Tote Security Initiative business plan for presentation during a special session at the boards’ annual meeting in March 2010.