We’ve seen good rides and bad trips. You blame the rider, the horse, or forgetting to wear your favorite hat. – But when you get that “perfect ride” there’s nothing sweeter as a racing fan with a $2 dollar ticket in hand. Years ago, I met a small gent with a kind smile. Always […]

The cold winds are blowing and snow replaces the rain. A sign that racing is shifting towards winter is in full effect. That’s just fine as horseplayers don’t need a calendar as we tell what time of year by which tracks are open. – Fair Grounds, Aqueduct, Gulfstream, Turfway Park, Tampa Bay, and Oaklawn. – […]

  Isn’t it fun to visit old haunts? – You know, the places we used to go on a regular basis. – I’ve been away from playing in handicapping contests for years.  I used to play every weekend online, and sometimes make the trip to tracks. There was nothing better than watching your 15-1 shot […]

It may be a large oval where marquee races are held, events of the year take place and the biggest players in sports call home. – Or, it may be the quaint little oval that has the spark of a country fair, and generations of horsemen have worked in the sport they love. I have […]

Another month in the books, and racing marches on to the next stop. – Fall time racing is a signal for the Breeders’ Cup. – As Keeneland opens you can feel the breeze turning cooler and leaves starting to change. The Happy Horseplayer looks forward to some special times this month. Last year I found […]

The week started out as many, but last week had some special magic. – Perry Ouzts was three wins away from 7,000 career wins. If it sounds like a great number, that’s because it is. – He is now the 9th rider in the history of racing to reach this milestone. To say this is […]

Sometimes you stumble across things that bring a smile to your soul. – It can be your secret love or best friend. For many, they search their entire life looking for such a thing and others find it in a blink of an eye. – For me, I was a younger man who fell head […]

Another month in the books and the summer tracks we waited for are gone again. But not to worry, they’ll be back and that’s the good news. – Watching and wagering on summer tracks is always great, but like the seasons they drift away and become a memory. Racing gives the horseplayer something to look […]

I went into the weekend with excitement to play Saratoga and try to make a few bucks. – Trying to score is not a bad thing and keeping the bankroll growing is a great thing. – The best part of working at the track is you’ll never know what you’ll see. Maybe it’s an old […]

Every morning your feet hit the floor should be first. But it’s what comes after that says a lot about you. – For me, it’s my son, family, and friends. Work comes closing fast to complete the superfecta and ranks pretty close. – I’m very grateful and have been most of my life. Maybe it was […]