The Horse Racing game at The D

On the second floor of the D is the most unusual horse racing game I've seen.
It still take quarters to play but I could play for hours and enjoy every minute,
win or lose.
Is this the only horse racing game of this kind left in Vegas or are there others ?
I sure hope the D doesn't get rid of it or stop using it.
Thanks

 

I've never played it, but many on this board know it well and can give you some info. I was there a month ago and it was in several pieces and "out of order", but the bartender did say that 'the game is VERY popular and they were working hard to get it fixed'. "As you might imagine", he said, "parts are a challenge."

 

There is also one at the MGM, it is called Sigma Derby.

 

"Sigma Derby" is the game you are referring to, it can be an extremely fun game to chill and have some drinks......especially if you have a fun group to cheer the horses on.

MGM also has one just to the right of the Buffet on the casino floor.
Im pretty sure those are the only 2 left that I have seen/played.

Cheers

 

Sigma Derby....best game ever. If they could find a way to hook this up to a player's card, I'd lose my life savings, I am sure.

As others have said, one more at MGM. So much drunken fun!! Oh, and google it, there are some good articles on it, and a FB group.

 

I play it every time I'm in Vegas. Its a great way to gamble, get really drunk and loud, and not lose to much money.

 

would be great if they put one in at the new osheas

 

I will be the dissenting voice.

I don't get it. Other than being old, there is nothing that grasps my fancy.

If it were the leader of a trend (like pinball machines were the forefathers of modern arcade games), it would make sense. But table games, slots, and horse racing books all predate Sigma Derby, so it doesn't fit that category.

If there were some way to make it an "advantage" game, it could be mentioned in a similar breath as full-pay VP and single deck, 3:2 blackjack. But the outcome is random, so it doesn't fit here.

Slow paced? Pai Gow Poker leads that as it is also slow and can be quite communal, but unlike Sigma Derby there is some strategy (albeit limited) that is to be followed in Pai Gow Poker.

Low limit? Sure, but if you have to bet $0.25 a race to satisfy your jones, maybe you shouldn't be gambling.

I've played it three times in Las Vegas, trying to find that magic "it" that everyone else seems to have. It is slow, clunky, loud and is like playing the Big Wheel (which every expert in the world will tell you to stay away from).

My opinion, YMMV, but I've never heard anyone explain what makes it so wonderful (other than that which could be refuted above).

 

Actually, without a bunch of fun people playing it, it is quite boring....

 

I have never played it personally, but it get the impression that "get drunk for cheap" heavily applies here. And if others are around, that adds a social aspect to the game. I have heard the D's drink service is quite good for this game, and if you would decide to min bet every race...

Expected loss = 20% x 40 races/hr x $0.25/race = $2/hr.

I can drink more than $2/hr personally.

 

Morpheus, when I played it a few weeks ago there was some gentlemen that kept asking everyone at the machine for the wrappers from the rolls of quarters......I didn't get it at first so I asked him why he kept them and he mentioned that he always took them to the players desk and they would contribute that towards his play......my next question seemed to piss him off as I asked how much value do a bunch of rolls of quarter wrappers give you within Mlife.
I wasn't trying to be mean I just didn't see how $100 worth of quarters was worth the trouble?

Absolutely fun game with the right crowd, for the social interactions alone its a good time

 

Sigma Derby (at MGM) is a must play every visit. Like others have said, it's a fun game with a group.

I think you can usually get good cocktail service at the game because it seats 8 players (assuming all the spots are working), plus there are usually people standing around the machine waiting for an open spot, so the cocktail waitress can get 8 or more tips in one spot, as opposed to separate orders spread around the casino floor.

 

I've had great cocktail service playing SD at MGM and the D 95% of the time. It should be 100% of the time, because the waitress can get $10 or more for every pass, but there have been a few times where service has been spotty. One time was totally understandable as a group of players wasn't tipping for their drinks and then complaining that service was slow. I went over to the waitress, tipped her in advance, and she kept my drinks full. It's amazing that some people don't get the concept of tipping in Vegas.

I also agree with the poster who said SD isn't that great without a fun group to play with. That's spot on - it's not great to play with other "serious" players, and certainly not much fun to play alone.

Dave

 

We always hit up sigma derby a couple times each trip. I'm still waiting to hit the 200-1 bet. Has anyone on here ever hit that?

 

Check this great story about the SD.It starts a few paragraphs into the story.

http://www.bandergrove.com/2008/02/sigma-derby-vintage-horse-racing-ambrosia/

 

not yet, but I have hit a high one...I think it was something like 137-1.

 

As others have mentioned, it is a silly and boring game.

However, if you can play when the right crowd is there, it is so much fun and a funny riot to boot. It is all about the crowd, and how they react, not the game itself.

It is the only game in Vegas, where... YOU, are the entertainment!


If the crowd is not right, then move on, nothing to see here. But if you get there with the right crowd,
your stomach is going to hurt from laughing so much, cazy..... :banana:

 

I walked by both derbys last trip, but the crowd didn't seem that fun. I really really want to play buy there needs to be some fun people. Looking for fun VMB'ers the first weekend of March Madness, I'm game.

 

Was at The D in the first part of December, and the SD table was packed.

Eventually two spots open and the five of us split the two terminals.

Our 4th race has a 200-1 long shot, and everyone bets it (obviously).

THE 200-1 HIT!! Nearly a wire-to-wire victory, too.

This was around 11 at night, so everyone was well lubricated, at this point.

People are doing victory laps around the machine, hugs, beers chugs.

One girl (early 20s and very drunk) actually climbed on top of the glass game top to high give people on the other side.

The whole payout for the machine was only a could hundred, but it was a table wide celebration like someone on a heater at a craps table. Really wild time.

Drink service was fast, considering the whole casino was really busy. People were tipping, which helped.

The SD was a must-do on every trip, as we always hit at least 1 120-1+ race each visit. However, I can't expect to see another 200-1 win.

 

I think it is all in the timing. Later in the day / night is best as some drinking has occurred with the participants and that makes for a more enjoyable crowd. A particularly (though not necessarily profitable) good time was had at the MGM in December when a group from Kentucky (so they said) happened to be there and it seemed like each race was presented as a preliminary qualifier for the eventual Kentucky Derby race. One of the guys from this group was sitting at the finish line and would actually call the race ("they are at the post" "and they're off!!" "down the back stretch" and all that) although his numbers were not exactly correct until the last 7 lengths or so. But it was entertaining. Also one of the group had a racing form from the REAL sports book and would consult it before each race to pick his plastic horses at the posted odds while announcing what the "program" suggested would be a good bet.

Banging on the glass and yelling at horses as if they could be influenced; screaming when winning even a 2:1 bet; the long faces of the losers that last only until the new odds are posted; the collegiality which develops throughout your stay are what make the Derby special for us. And I think it is difficult for someone just discovering (although not impossible) the game to enjoy or see the point as opposed to those who saw the chariots at Caesars or the papyrus boats at the Luxor or the various other game themes around town in the late 80's / 90's and realize a gem is missing.

It is like Fremont street before they closed it; the strip when the Boardwalk was an occupant; the Oasis / Frontier vibe; you have to be able to look back a bit to really appreciate the present. Maybe that is why grandparents enjoy life so much more than they did in the middle of all the parenting issues. Anyway, as others have mentioned, the drink service is exceptional at the MGM on most visits. It certainly was in December.