Racing could use whale like Walters

Anyone involved in the business of gambling should have watched ''60 Minutes'' on Sunday for its feature on successful Las Vegas gambler Billy Walters. Look up the phrase ''luck is the residue of design'' and you'll see Walters' face. He wins big because he understands odds and does his homework.

Walters was shown doing what he does best: betting on sports. He also mentioned playing craps and poker.

But he never mentioned betting on horse racing, which should have made industry officials cringe.

Maybe Walters dabbles during the Triple Crown, the Breeders' Cup, or a large Pick 6 carry-over. But unless he's receiving a huge rebate, someone such as Walters knows that the odds of betting on horses is stacked badly against the player. His silence on horse betting should have screamed volumes to racing's decision-makers.

Horse racing needs whales such as Walters if it wants to increase overall handle. All the $2 bettors in the world won't make up for a few guys like him. I suspect that getting advice from someone as astute as Walters wouldn't help our business because most of the people in charge don't listen.

For example, in 2004 the National Thoroughbred Racing Association formed a Players' Panel, which suggested scores of improvements, most of which could have been easily implemented. Seven years later, we are still waiting for positive changes.

■ TOURNAMENT QUALIFIERS -- Handicapping tournaments have become the fastest area of growth among horseplayers. For good reasons, the two big year-end tournaments -- the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship and the Horseplayer World Series -- are in Las Vegas.

Local bettors will have a chance to qualify for both in the next nine days. On Wednesday, Red Rock Resort will host the NHC Last Chance qualifier. The entry fee is $500, and the top five finishers will qualify for the NHC on Jan. 28 and 29 at Red Rock.

The Orleans Winter Gallop qualifier will be Jan. 30. The entry fee is $100, and the top three finishers will earn a free entry into the HWS from Feb. 17 to 19 at the Orleans.

It's not too early to map out a plan to qualify for the two year-end tournaments in 2012. The total purse of the HWS will be an estimated $700,000. The prize pool for the NHC will nearly double from this year to an estimated $2 million. Any horseplayer worth his salt should buy an NHC Tour membership for $45. Sign up at ntra.com.

Richard Eng's horse racing column is published Friday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He can be reached at rich_eng@hotmail.com.