Horse racing news and analysis from Saratoga, Santa Anita and the 2023 Breeders' Cup.

‘Totelly’ Unacceptable: Tote Crash Disrupted Wagering Across the U.S.

A “tote crash” disrupted wagering on the Tampa Bay Derby, won by Domestic Product and the weekend’s only Kentucky Derby qualifying race.

In an unprecedented turn of events, the East Coast horse racing community faced a major setback yesterday when a tote system crash led to widespread disruption in wagering activities. The glitch, which occurred just minutes after the conclusion of the Florida Oaks, froze the Tampa Bay Downs tote board and halted betting operations for almost an hour.

The technical snag threw a wrench in what was supposed to be a thrilling day of racing, culminating in the Tampa Bay Derby. The race, a critical Kentucky Derby 2024 points prep, was delayed by over 30 minutes due to the tote-system crash, affecting not only the spectators at Tampa Bay Downs but also fans across the East Coast and and as far away as Santa Anita who were unable to place bets or cash winning tickets.

Domestic Product, a 3-year-old colt owned by Klaravich Stables and trained by Chad Brown, emerged victorious in the Tampa Bay Derby. However, the win was overshadowed by the frustration of fans who were left in the lurch, unable to participate in the wagering process. The incident has raised serious questions about the reliability of the tote systems and the need for robust backup measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.

As the dust settled, the racing community is calling for accountability and assurances that measures will be taken to address the vulnerabilities in the wagering infrastructure. The tote crash not only impacted the financial aspect of the sport but also dented the trust of the fans, who are now dubbing the incident ‘Totelly’ Unacceptable.

Tote Crash Disrupted Wagering, Tampa Bay Bettors Paid

As for the 11th race, the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, all win, place and show, exacta, trifecta, superfecta and Super High 5 wagers will be refunded, as will the late Pick 4 which began with the ninth race.

Multi-race wagers involving the 11th race were paid out as follows, with “ALL” runners counting as winners of the 11th race:

$1 Daily Double: 5/ALL, $4.20.

50-cent Pick Three: 3/5/ALL, $14.75.

50-cent Pick 4: 1, 2, 4, 6/3/3, 5/ALL, $69.30.

50-cent Pick 5: 8/1, 2, 4, 6/3/3, 5/ALL, $612.90.

20-cent Ultimate 6: 3/8/1, 2, 4, 6/3/3, 5/ALL, $436.22.

The Tote System

For those unfamiliar with the term, a tote system (short for totalizator) is the backbone of modern horse race betting. It calculates and displays real-time odds, manages bets, and ensures accurate payouts. When it functions smoothly, it’s the silent workhorse behind the parimutuel system that makes betting on horse races possible.

Tampa Bay Downs Loses Big

Thoroughbred Daily News has published a statement from Tampa Bay Downs VP and GM Pete Berube which tries to explain what happened. He estimates that the Florida track lost $4.5 million because betting wasn’t available on its biggest race of the year. And subsequently forced the cancellation of the 12th and final race on the stakes rich card.

The Fallout