Tall Tales of the Track: Bourbon, Bets, and the Beatles

Tue May 16 2023Jennifer Kelly

The combination of a well-timed swig of bourbon, a fortuitous wager, and a basement music club made history not just in horse racing, but also in rock and roll.
Betting Strategy: Free Roll for a Seat at the NHC

Sat May 13 2023Kevin Kilroy

The second of five free online qualifiers for the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) is set for this Sunday, May 14.
The Heart That Wears the Crown: War Admiral

Fri May 12 2023Jennifer Kelly

Lofty expectations are laid upon the greats when they exit stage left to enter the next phase. When Man o’ War said goodbye to his life on the track, the focus then became on whether the 20th century’s greatest racehorse could produce another one like him. Whatever it was that made Big Red so dominant and so iconic had to be passed along to his progeny, but what would that look like?
When analyzing layoffs, sometimes basic handicapping trumps all

Wed May 10 2023J. Keeler Johnson

There are many ways handicappers can gauge whether a horse is ready to win off a long layoff. One of the simplest is, has the horse shown the ability to win a race like the one you’re handicapping?
Catching My Eye: Brian Hernandez Jr. and Reylu Gutierrez at Keeneland

Tue Apr 25 2023Kevin Kilroy

Two jockeys had big days at Keeneland on Saturday. Brian Hernandez Jr. won three races including piloting home 13-1 Aunt Becca, and Rey Gutierrez bagged two, most impressively aboard 12-1 Front Run the Fed.
When it comes to trainer stats, nuance matters

Tue Apr 25 2023J. Keeler Johnson

Trainer stats are among the most valuable tools horseplayers have at their disposal. But a trainer’s overall win percentage is only one part of the story.
When three-year-olds face older horses, the class level matters

Wed Apr 19 2023J. Keeler Johnson

Traditional handicapping guidance explains that three-year-old Thoroughbreds are rarely ready to challenge older horses before autumn. But the equation can change at lower class levels.
Betting Strategy: Chris Larmey, “Nobody wants to be a fish"

Thu Apr 13 2023Kevin Kilroy

To succeed long term, a horseplayer needs to know how to bet in order to cash in. Chris Larmey has begun a new podcast “Bet With the Best” aimed at exactly that.
Should you bet or dismiss a horse off a bad race?

Tue Apr 11 2023J. Keeler Johnson

It happens all the time. A horse enters a race off a poor performance in its previous start, leaving bettors to wonder—will the horse rebound, or run badly again?
The Heart that Wears the Crown: Omaha

Sun Apr 09 2023Jennifer Kelly

When any Triple Crown winner goes to stud, the high expectations set by winning that coveted trophy come along, as fans eagerly anticipate the next generation. Can he copy himself and produce another just like him? Of the 13 to have worn the crown, only one has done what is nearly impossible, a feat unlikely to be duplicated anytime soon: siring another Triple Crown winner.
Pedigree lingo: Phrases to known in horse racing

Wed Apr 05 2023J. Keeler Johnson

Words like “sire,” “dam,” and “broodmare” don’t necessarily mean a lot to those unfamiliar with horses or horse racing. Fortunately, the lingo isn’t as complicated as it sounds.
How and when to bet a Power Box

Mon Apr 03 2023J. Keeler Johnson

Boxing bets. There have always been pros and cons to this catch-all strategy. If only there were a way to box bets in a more nuanced manner. Well guess what? That’s what a Power Box is for.
What is the Place Pick All, and how do you bet it?

Thu Mar 30 2023J. Keeler Johnson

Once in a while you’ll see a racetrack offer a less common type of wager. One example is the “Place Pick All”.