Handicappers from all walks have a differing story on how it all began, but there are plenty of the same elements involved. As we sit at our computer monitor, we are sipping coffee in our slippers and playing the card at sunny Gulfstream Park. But we are missing the journey. There was nothing like getting bundled […]
When the Travers is in the books, and you start reading about the fall meet tracks. You tell the fat lady to start warming up, as the cool winds of autumn are just weeks away. Football season is on deck, and baseball is starting to shake out contenders to watch down the stretch. I tried […]
This past Saturday was a solid day of racing at Belterra Park. Now, I know its not Del Mar or the Spa, but it was the only track I was going to be in attendance. As I was walking in, a new player stopped me on my way up the elevator. He introduced himself, and I […]
How many times would you have liked to hear the truth? Not the P.C. answers aimed to please, but the ones we’ll talk about around the water cooler. There have been some goings on this year, and I would have loved to been a fly on the wall taking in the real truth. Sometimes we […]
The old saying that resonates in your noggin still begs the question. When you walk into a restaurant, store, or sports bar. There’s a concentrated effort to make you feel more welcome. I guess this rule applies everywhere in the world except the track. If there was a business that needed to focus on the […]
I have many friends who work in racing, and most are dear and cherished pals. After the races one evening, I stopped by an old track hangout to have a beer and catchup with some friendly faces. After I finished one brew, I couldn’t believe how much they had changed. Or, maybe it was me… […]
There’s an old saying: ” the more things change, the more they stay the same.” – I’ve been reading for sometime about the importance of fan education and the efforts of taking it to street. You know, finding players and teaching them more about the game. I couldn’t agree more that the game could use […]
Gamblers are creatures of habit. We bet the same tracks, get excited when they come down the lane, and find explanations if our horse runs out. I guess you could say that makes me “Master of the Obvious.” But on this particular Sunday, I found my visit to the races a little more than just […]
Whenever I read anything about racing, there’s always a hidden surprise. It’s not that gooey goodness in a candy bar, or the sugar sweet icing on your favorite cake. Racing is the little kid who was sent to stand in the corner while the rest of the class went on without you. May I ask […]
During a recent conversation with a handicapping pal, I found out he was not very happy with racing. Now, before you jump to any conclusions, he is the kind of player you would love to sit next to while gambling, or locking horns in a handicapping contest. It is rare to hear legit concerns from […]