Happy New Year to all our fellow horseplayers Whether you make a living playing the horses or do it as a side-hustle the one resolution you should consider (if you haven’t already) is to work on being mentally strong. Being mentally strong sets apart the Winning horseplayer from the perpetual ticket-tearing loser. Here are five examples of a Winning mind-set. If you already adhere to … Continue reading Happy New (Winning) Year
It’s that time of year when industries (music, cinema, television, etc…) look back at the previous 12 months and review their ups and downs. Horse racing is no different but rather than trying to choose the good, the bad and the ugly across the board, we give you just a few snippets of some significant developments of 2024 involving some of the sports favorite venues. … Continue reading Track Stars…Or Not
SANTA CLAUS (foaled in 1961) was a British-bred Irish trained race-horse and sire. As a three year-old in 1964 the dark-coated bay stallion had his best year on the turf. There is no doubt that, back in the day, SANTA CLAUS brought a lot of joy (and cash) to the older boys and girls that believed in him. His most notable achievements were Winning the Irish 200 Guineas Stakes, as well … Continue reading Santa Liked The Grass
Over four decades (can that be right?) removed from his sensational jockey career, Steve Cauthen lives the life of a typical Thoroughbred insider in his hometown of Verona in Northern Kentucky. Best known for capturing the 1978 Triple Crown aboard AFFIRMED, Cauthen had established himself as a potential superstar in his first full year as a jockey in 1977. He was honored for that season with three Eclipse Awards—outstanding apprentice and journeyman … Continue reading He’ll Always Be ‘The Kid’
At 4 feet 11 inches tall and 98 pounds, it didn’t look like Bill Shoemaker could ride a ten-speed Schwinn, let alone control a head-strong, 1200 pound Thoroughbred Race Horse. Still, Shoemaker personified that mysterious bond between horse and rider. He communicated with an innate light touch on the reins, coaxing the horse into the action, gentling it with his hands. Horses would always run for Shoemaker, … Continue reading ‘The Shoe’ Was Tough As Leather
Saratoga Cool Beans is a nifty online coffee shop catering to horse loving, coffee drinkers. It’s a fun website and you needn’t love horses to enjoy the gourmet coffee, but knowing the game a little bit makes the references more enjoyable. The companies tag line is; Your Morning Cup Of Giddy-Up, and the coffee descriptions are just as much fun. For example: JIM DANDY– No 100-1 upset here. This … Continue reading Horse-Themed Coffee Makes A Great Gift
If you weren’t aware, in two days it will be Friday, December 13th. This isn’t a holiday harbinger, rather just another reminder that horseplayers can be a superstitious group. The seasoned railbirds know that these unfounded beliefs have no basis in reality. That whatever the outcome, it can (usually) be explained away, yet they hang on to their sorcery believing it gives them an edge. … Continue reading Friday The 13th…Are you Superstitious?
The $500,000 dollar, Grade 2 Cigar Mile is Saturday at Aqueduct Park. It is the final Graded Stakes race of the year on the NYRA circuit. The one-turn mile brings together a couple different groups of horses: ones that usually run in sprints at a mile or less, and the others that often run in longer races around two turns. The Cigar Mile Handicap began in 1988 … Continue reading The Cigar Mile
The Grade 2 Remsen Stakes is Saturday at Aqueduct Park. Due to some recent achievements the Remsen seems a reliable indicator of Triple Crown success. DORNOCH took last years Remsen and then went on to Win the Belmont Stakes as well as the Haskell Stakes. SIERRA LEONE ran 2nd to DORNOCH in last years contest. He lost the Kentucky Derby by a nose and came … Continue reading The Remsen Stakes
Summertime racing allows for fun in the sun…most of the time. The fall/winter racing season in the northeast will occasionally bring inclement weather. Unlike baseball, Horse Racing usually goes on before, during, and after a rain/snow storm. That said, there are some general handicapping concepts that you should keep on hand for… a rainy, off-track kind of day. First, keep in mind that racetracks can … Continue reading Making Money In The Mud
