This past Saturday, I took a shot at a wager I almost never play, and had never before cashed: a Pick 6, on closing day at Churchill Downs. Over at Brisnet, I talk about why I played the bet, as well as the logic behind why I used who I used on my $6.40 ticket... Continue Reading →
Chicago Race of the Day: Friday, May 17
In the latest episode of Chicago Race of the Day, I discuss Friday's Arlington 1st. If you've ever been curious about how to use the conditions of a race in order to find good options for beating suspicious chalk? This episode of the podcast is your step-by-step guide on how to do so, in light... Continue Reading →
Horseplayer Confessions: Just Say No To Lifetime Losers
Over at Brisnet, I make my first visit to the Horseplayer Confession booth, and think about a stern reminder not to play horses who don't win races.
a bizarre experiment in handicapping and memory
CLOSED BOOK EXAM. Usually, handicapping is the opposite. It's a game of information, and we have so much at our fingertips: past performances, race replays, the analysis of handicappers we know and trust. It's as open-book as it gets, thanks in such a huge part to the Internet. But, I decided to try a little... Continue Reading →
Equestricon Blog: Women Horseplayers Stand Out at Featured Equestricon Seminar
Women handicappers are not a monolithic group, and the seminar highlights that. The panel features horseplayers with expertise in everyday live-money wagering, as well as structured contest play. Each panelist followed a different path to becoming a horseplayer, and has crafted their own style for analyzing races. This variance in perspectives makes the panel even... Continue Reading →
how to play Arlington Park
Arlington gets underway this Friday afternoon. Over at Brisnet, I have a look at angles to keep in mind during the meet. I discuss angles including trainers, jockeys, and running styles on both the grass and the polytrack. I point out what angles tend to win a lot -- and what angles to keep in... Continue Reading →
The Tournament Edge: Kentucky Derby Morning Workout Videos
Over at The Tournament Edge, I'm talking Derby in my new blog. Specifically, I'm talking about all the videos out there with Derby contender morning works. So much footage of the Derby contenders comes out every day -- but, what can you make of it? How should a good or a bad workout affect who... Continue Reading →
previewing the Hawthorne spring meet
For lovers of Chicago racing, tonight is like Christmas Eve...after all, Hawthorne starts again tomorrow! And, over at the TwinSpires blog, I preview the Hawthorne spring meet. I analysed the last few spring meets at Hawthorne, and take a look at some of the angles that emerged. So, read my introduction to handicapping Hawthorne, pick some... Continue Reading →
The Tournament Edge: What About the Rabbit?
In my latest blog for The Tournament Edge, I discuss something that has become a hot topic after last Saturday's Sword Dancer: rabbits. However, much of the discussion has been around the ethics of rabbits: whether it's okay to run them in the first place, and what they should or should not be allowed to... Continue Reading →
The Tournament Edge: Finding Condition Book Horses
In my latest piece for The Tournament Edge, I talk about one of the most useful tools in a handicapper's arsenal: the condition book. Some race conditions can seem complex at first, but learning to read and understand how they fit together can help you find winners. My article starts with the basics of conditions,... Continue Reading →
The Tournament Edge: Playing What You Know
In my latest blog at The Tournament Edge, I discuss the ups and downs of playing what I know. As anyone who reads my work regularly knows, I focus on Chicago racing. That is my niche. For the most part, that makes sense, and there are a lot of advantages to having such a specific... Continue Reading →
The Tournament Edge: Finding Value in Extended Sprints
I'm excited to announce that I'm the newest blogger over at The Tournament Edge! I'll be writing there once a week, discussing handicapping strategy, tournament play, and the Chicago circuit. My first article for their blog is live, and it covers some of my favourite kinds of races to handicap and play: extended sprints. Very... Continue Reading →
Three Hour Nap, revisited
Thoroughbred racing in Illinois gets back underway in less than two weeks. With that on the horizon, and two-year-old races at Arlington only a few months away, it seemed a good time to revisit one of my pieces from last year, about Three Hour Nap. Since my maiden-focused look at Three Hour Nap was published... Continue Reading →
don’t sleep on Three Hour Nap!
Illinois racing, and particularly Illinois-bred racing, can be a game of niche angles. One of those angles centers around an Illinois stallion named Three Hour Nap. Despite having a relatively small number of foals so far, their ability to win early in their careers has made him prominent. The cleverly named son of Afternoon Deelites... Continue Reading →
The Final Wager: Parimutuel Wagering
Part of the reason I got so deeply into horse racing is the trivia aspect. Being able to remember little details about horses, their pedigrees, and their races makes the sport fun. In light of that, I am excited to announce that I collaborated with Keith Williams of The Final Wager on the latest Fact... Continue Reading →
