West Coast Racing
The holiday season annually brings west coast racing fans a gift they might actually want – albeit a day late, so let’s call it horse racing’s version of Boxing Day in southern California. On December 26th Santa Anita Park begins its winter racing season. The track celebrates its traditional post-Christmas opening day, which marks the start of a new season of racing at the Arcadia … Continue reading West Coast Racing
Dirty Money
For all of the sun and fun rolled into summertime racing, the fall/winter racing season in the northeast occasionally brings inclement weather. Unlike baseball, Horse Racing usually goes on before, during, and after a rain/snow storm and there are some general handicapping concepts that you should keep on hand for… a rainy day. First off, keep in mind that racetracks can be like apples and … Continue reading Dirty Money
NYRA Downgrades
On Friday afternoon the American Graded Stakes Committee released its list of graded stakes races for the for 2023 season. The list included five races that were downgraded from Grade I status to Grade II contests. Included in the downgrades were prestigious NYRA races for older dirt horses- the Woodward Stakes as well as the Cigar Mile will now be considered Grade II’s. Also dropping … Continue reading NYRA Downgrades
The Art Of The Derby
The Kentucky Derby is five months away. And while it is still too early to have any horses entered in the annual contest, it’s apparently not too soon to announce the Official Art of the Kentucky Derby. And yes, that’s a real thing. Last week Churchill Downs released the 2023 Official Art of the Kentucky Derby, which will be provided by renowned international artist, Romero Britto. … Continue reading The Art Of The Derby
‘The Shoe’
At 4 feet 11 inches tall and 98 pounds, it didn’t look like Bill Shoemaker could lug a couple bags of groceries, let alone control a head-strong Thoroughbred Race Horse a dozen times his weight. 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 … Continue reading ‘The Shoe’
They’re Racing At Oaklawn
The 2022-23 racing season opened today Oaklawn Park. The first organized horse racing at Oaklawn began on February 24, 1905. The Midwest track features some of the country’s top winter dirt racing. The 68-day racing season extends until Kentucky Derby day- May 6th. Racing at Oaklawn boasts big fields, good betting races for handicappers, an excellent stakes program, and very strong purses fueled by gaming … Continue reading They’re Racing At Oaklawn
Synthetic Surface, Yes Or No?
Mark Casse is one of the most successful trainers in North America. He has worked with some very talented horses; CLASSIC EMPIRE, SIR WINSTON, TEPIN, and WAR OF WILL just to name a few. Casse is well known and respected throughout the industry, so just like (dated reference alert) EF Hutton, when Mark Casse talks people should listen. “Horses were not bred to run on the dirt,” said the … Continue reading Synthetic Surface, Yes Or No?
DOPE
A New York-based veterinarian is facing three felony charges related to drug adulteration, misbranding, and wire fraud conspiracies. These charges stem from allegedly injecting purported performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) into racehorses, trained by co-defendant Jason Servis. Servis allegedly drugged almost all the Thoroughbreds under his care in 2019. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Alexander Chan, who hid the billing of Servis for these treatments, cut a plea … Continue reading DOPE
Popular Horse Racing Phrases
Ours is a sport with a lexicon all its own. People unfamiliar with horse racing would be surprised to learn that some expressions still being used today have their origins based in the sport of kings. So, let’s get out of the gate and take a look at a sampling: ACROSS THE BOARD. Meaning pertaining to all categories or things, originated around 1903 as a … Continue reading Popular Horse Racing Phrases
Looking For Value
The adage says that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So too, is wagering Value. As much as ascertaining Value is a key element in handicapping a race, it’s as subjective as any other part of trying to pick a Winner. There might not be a clear-cut answer, yet that doesn’t mean it should be ignored. What could be an overlay to one … Continue reading Looking For Value
