I watch the races, mainly Kentucky, New York, and the track where I work. Any more tracks, and they wouldn’t get much out of me at the end of the day, and I would start seeing false information. First, keep track with notes about track biases. This combined with the right info can be deadly. Know [...]

I was walking around the apron on opening day at a local track. It was beautiful, and I saw more people soaking up the sun than on the beach. I also ran into a group of gents who had a question about the odds when the horses broke from the gate. There was a group [...]

When you read about the history of the first real horse players, a few names stand out that had nerves of steel, and a love of the game. If you haven’t heard of Pittsburgh Phil, you must have live in a cave. Many would call him the founding father of horse players. In February 1905, [...]

When Bay Meadows closed for good last summer, leaving Northern California with only one major Thoroughbred racing venue (Golden Gate Fields), many wondered how such a thing could happen. Bay Meadows, after all, had been a fixture in California horse racing for more than 70 years and was the longest continually operating Thoroughbred track in [...]

So many times we see a race that we really liked. Or, it could be the 6th race at Whatever Park where your pony gets shut off but finishes up nicely. I tried in vain to keep up on my horses to play list, but things get in the way. Work, life, and everything in [...]

Everyone needs a little brush-up from time to time. It is only those who are mad at their money, who make no attempt to sharpen their skills. Here are a couple reminders to add to your checklist: 1. Take a look at horses dropping in class. This can be an effective way to gauge value. [...]

Yesterday, I ran into a gent who loves to play the races. He has been an avid player for 40 years. I looked him over and he had the look of a professional man. No judgment here; just taking in the obvious. Then began a lesson steeped in history, fun, and our mutual love of [...]

This is a question that every horse player asks on a daily basis. There are NTRA contests and Horse Player World Series Contests. Poker has one, and so does racing. Both have a pot over a million dollars.  You have to qualify for the NTRA contest by placing in a satellite. For the HPWS, you can [...]

I know, it sounds like Jerry McGuire. But there can be some truth to this magical line after all. Here is a great day to spend at the track. You and a group of friends, colleagues, or just folks sitting at your table, are prepared to enjoy an afternoon at the races. Everybody is stoked, [...]

I love playing exotics. Everything from the opening double to whatever is offered in the final race of the day. It gives the player a chance to get out of a hole, or better the bankroll before heading to the car. A wager that has become popular for players at all levels is the 10-cent [...]