Boxers wake in the wee hours and hit the road. The fog hasn’t burnt off and the night still holds for a couple more hours. – The sun can be seen creeping over the hills as the skies turn a wondrous golden. Morning arrives and the road work is complete. – They grab a shower, […]

Don’t act like you didn’t know or it was creeping up like tax day. – It is the “Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” and the real clock has started ticking. As we inch closer there is a process that should start now if you haven’t already. – Here are the top point earners from US […]

Leave your swim shorts at home. – This pool is all about money on one of the best days of the year to bet. – Grab 4 to 5 friends, and put up some money. It is time to pool our money and take a good shot at the brass ring. Everyone tosses in $100. […]

We are weeks away from the beautiful roses, swirling humanity and thundering hooves. Yep, it’s almost Derby time! As we get closer there is nothing better than taking stock in our handicapping checklist. The Happy Horseplayer wants to share his many years of handicapping to make your Oaks and Derby a winner.   1. – […]

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 […]

        The Triple Crown has been won and “lucky #13″ is in the books. – Justify is undefeated and has done nothing wrong to date. But after the race there’s usually some hullabaloo about something that transpired. – He jumped from the gate, drew off quickly and settled in for a 1 […]

The Kentucky Derby is in the books and your favorite summer ovals will start racing soon. There is something about the change of seasons and the opening of new ovals that really get my blood pumping. There is nothing like the spring and the opening of Keeneland to get my inner-horse player revved up. The babies […]

  When the big time marquee races arrive sometimes we lose our head. I’m just as guilty and it bites me a few times a year. – I guess we just can’t help ourselves wanting to get into the game early. – But rest assured, there is still plenty of time to look for the […]

    I’ve worked at the races since I was 18-yrs-old. I’ve had every job on the track minus selling tickets. – During this time you meet some pretty interesting people. Adding to the list was track photographer Pat Lang. – I first met him when I made my way down to get my picture taken […]

I was taking a walk down memory lane. – Well, it started as a dream and evolved into a conversation with John Engelhardt. John used to suggest, help, and point me in the direction of some interesting guests when I was the host of the Winning Ponies Internet Show. It was on June 10, 2010 […]