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• What To Consider When Handicapping By Race Track?
• How To Handicap Horse Racing
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Hialeah Park Racetrack

May 15, 2012

Over the past 20 years, Florida thoroughbred racing has grown in popularity, as more and more sports betting courses are opening every couple of years. One track that a lot of handicappers are now travelling too is called the Hialeah Park racetrack. Originally opened in 1921, Hialeah Park was named to the US National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Here is a betting online guide to Hialeah Park.

Hialeah Park was founded by famed aviation pioneer Glen Curtiss and James Bright in 1921 but was closed shortly after. The track would open again in 1925, this time under control of the Miami Jockey Club, who endured a heavy financial burden six months after buying the track, due to damages from a hurricane. In 1930 the Miami Jockey Club would sell Hialeah Park to a business group from Philadelphia. Under the tenure of the Philadelphia group, Hialeah was renovated so it could appear more luxurious and attract higher-class MLB blog betting enthusiasts.

Throughout its illustrious history, Hialeah Park has held some of the biggest stakes races in the history of horseracing. For instance, Hialeah Park was the former home of the Flamingo Stakes, a major race used for horses wanting to qualify for the American Triple Crown. The track was also used for the Widener Handicap, named after Joseph E. Widener, the leader of the previously mentioned Philadelphia business group that purchased the track from the Miami Jockey Club. The Widener Handicap was used for four-year old thoroughbreds as a way to qualify for the Breeders Cup held annually in November. Both races were held until 2001 when they were removed, in 2004 the track was shutdown as a thoroughbred racing ground due to the limited amount of dates for racing action.

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Lone Star Park Profile

May 1, 2012

With the Kentucky Derby betting lines set to close later this week, fans new to horseracing would be best served to watch thoroughbred racing at another track first. One racecourse that you may have heard of is called Lone Star Park. Located in Gran Prairie, Texas, Lone Star Park was the home of the 2004 Breeders Cup. As we edge closer to the first stage of the 2012 American Triple Crown, there is no racecourse we would rather recommend then Lone Star Park.

Lone Star Park has been around for nearly 13 years, as it was first opened in 1997. Since 2002, Magna Entertainment Corp. based out of Aurora, Ontario Canada has owned Lone Star Park. The course is known for its Grade III races in thoroughbred racing, while also hosting quarter horse racing events. In 2004, Lone Star Park extended its viewing area to 50,000 seats, as it played host to the annual Breeders Cup. The Breeders Cup is essentially the horse racing Olympics, as thoroughbreds from across the globe travel to places such as Lone Star Park, for a chance at placing the best odds.

The 50,000 seats increase was a one-time thing, as Lone Star Park usually only holds about 8,000 spectators. However, it has enough room for 1,500 horses and 32 barns. Meaning to say, for MLB blogs handicappers, Lone Star Park is an ideal racetrack for you to practice picking ponies. The length of Lone Star Park is one mile, which is a few meters shorter then, the aforementioned Kentucky Derby, and is raced on dirt. For all intents and purposes, thoroughbreds that excel on dirt are more likely to have an easy time in major stakes races, because grass and turf are much easier on their hooves. Therefore, by practicing your wagering at Lone Star Park, you may be watching the future Kentucky Derby winner down the road.

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Calder Race Course

April 17, 2012

With less than a month to go until the Kentucky Derby, the Florida horseracing scene has Bodog handicappers scrambling to place their bets. From Tampa Bay Downs in West Florida to Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, Florida, bettors have two tracks to watch the ponies before the American Triple Crown. Today, we will be looking at why Calder Racecourse has the best odds for all of your horseracing needs this season. Here is a guide.

The Calder Casino and Race Course, also known, as the Calder Race Course was first opened in 1971, by business developer Stephen A. Calder. Calder had always envisioned horseracing in Florida in the summer, and spent the better part of the 1960s attempting to have the state fund his vision. Finally by 1971 when the course opened, the state agreed to fund it. The creation of Calder Race Course, led to the closure of the legendary Tropical Race Park in Miami, as then owner William Knight, was also a part owner of Calder Race Course. As a result, Knight would transfer all of his MLB races from Tropical Park to Calder Race Course.

In 1999 Churchill Downs Inc. the current owner of the Louisville, Kentucky based racecourse purchased Calder Race Course. Since 2000, Calder Race Course has become the home of many Breeders Cup and Eclipse Award Winners, as they use the track to prepare for major stakes races. When Churchill Downs Inc. bought Calder Race Course for $86million they did so on the premise of creating a couple of major stakes races as well. With that in mind, the Summit of Speed and the Florida Millions were both instituted into Calder Racecourse. As this is the case, some of the top horses in the world, travel to Calder Race Course on an annual basis.

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Churchill Downs

April 3, 2012

With the baseball betting season set to get underway later this week, the time is now for horse racing enthusiasts to prepare for the American Triple Crown. Held every May, the Triple Crown allows horse racing handicappers to travel to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, Pimlico Racecourse for the Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Park for the Belmont Stakes. Here is a closer look at Churchill Downs, the home of the first stage of the American Triple Crown.

Opened in 1875 by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky has been the home of the Kentucky Derby, forever. The whole concept behind both the creation of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, was to provide the United States with a racetrack comparable to ones located across Europe. The inspiration for Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, actually took place in 1873, as Meriwether Clark Jr. and a few colleagues traveled to England and France, to watch the top three-year-old horses in each country compete for a grand title. Thus, when Meriwether returned to Kentucky, he felt it was necessary for a racecourse and prestigious race in the Kentucky Derby to be born.

Through the early years of the MLB Churchill Downs racecourse, there were many peaks and valleys. On the one hand, Churchill Downs remains one of the biggest attractions in the city of Louisville, as big audiences gather for the first stage of the American Triple Crown. On the other hand, Churchill Downs used to be synonymous with gambling, which in the 19^th century was heavily frowned upon. In fact, gambling would eventually lead to the suicide or Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. and the closure of Churchill Downs in the late 1890s. From 1900 on wards, the City of Louisville has owned Churchill Downs and has returned it to the aura that Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. had intended for it in the beginning.

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Oaklawn Park Racetrack

March 20, 2012

For people who aren’t a fan of March Madness betting, but are looking for a sport niche to gamble upon, why not try your luck at the racetrack. Horse racing is wagered upon by close to a million people a year, as it is known as the sport of kings. For all intents and purposes you can make just as much profit one afternoon at the sports betting racetrack, as you could wagering on the entire March Madness Tournament. With that in mind, one racetrack we recommend checking out is called Oaklawn Park Racetrack.

Located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Oaklawn Park Racetrack was built in 1904, but not officially opened, until February 24, 1905. Comparable to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, Oaklawn Park Racetrack modeled itself off of British horse racing tracks. Meaning to say, rather then run 10 to 12 races a day, Oaklawn Park would only run six races a day, giving off a more unique feeling. Unfortunately, like the MLB, Oaklawn Park was subjected to much political controversy in its early years. As a result, the park shut down in 1907, and wouldn’t reopen until 1916 with new owners. This trend of new ownership due to political matters would cause Oaklawn to open and close continuously until 1934, when the track finally received some stability.

For all intents and purposes, the present inception of Oaklawn Parks Racetrack has been around since 1934. In 1935, Oaklawn Park was the home of the Arkansas Derby. The first official Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park was in 1936 for a purse of $5,000. Present day, the Arkansas Derby has had purses close to $1000,000 as bettors have seen the track go from non-existent for a while, to a staple of Arkansas rich history. The track is specifically run for thoroughbred racing, and often brings out the best horses in America.

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Rules To Horse Betting

March 6, 2012

NBA trade deadline enthusiasts looking for another sport to handicap once the deadline concludes should look no further then horse racing. Nicknamed the sport of kings, horse racing has been around for centuries, and has allowed many March Madness betting enthusiasts the opportunity to win back the money they lost on the tournament. For new bettors, we will be looking at the rules to the racetrack. Master these principles and you will have much success.

Firstly, one rule to keep in mind, is that just because a horse has long shot odds, doesn’t mean they will make you a profit. As sports betting handicappers, it is almost as if a light bulb goes off in our minds, that when we see ridiculous odds, we have to try to wager with them. It’s like when a cop tells you to put out your cigarette in front of a no smoking sign and you continue to smoke, the urge just becomes too much. In horse racing, many horses are given long odds of 30 to 75 to one. For all intents and purposes, just because the horse has long odds, doesn’t mean you have to pay a kings ransom to make a profit. It also means, that if a horse has long odds, chances are the horse wasn’t very good to begin with. If you are considering making such a wager, approach with caution, and risk as little as possible, preferably two dollars.

Secondly, avoid maiden races like the plague. Maiden races, are ones in which no horse in the field has actually won a race before. In this scenario, each horse will be given their odds based on who their parents and owners and jockey are, not on their overall talent level. With this in mind, you should avoid these races, as many horses live up to their long odds. For every Miami Heat there is a Sacramento Kings.

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Handicapping The Kentucky Derby

February 21, 2012

In less than three months, March Madness betting lines will be completely switched to horse racing, as the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby is held during the first weekend in May. The Triple Crown is one of the oldest competitions in sports, dating back to the late 19^th century, as three-year-old horses have competed to win the three-stage race and be named sports betting champion for that season. As horse handicappers will attest too, the Kentucky Derby is one of the toughest races to as it usually features a horse with long odds coming from behind to pull off the victory.

The first known Kentucky Derby took place in 1875, three years after the one and a quarter miles track was constructed at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. When the race took place, Aristides won the inaugural 15 horse race in front of 10,000 fans. Present day, the field is often 19 horses with over 100,000 fans in attendance, and over a million fans watching from beyond the track. But while the race receives high praise today, it wasn’t always that way.

Essentially, from the late 1870s to 1892, the Kentucky Derby was very much considered a regional race. In fact, in 1892, it looked like the MLB Kentucky Derby was very much on its final legs, as only three horses were entered to run in the race. By 1899, original track owner M. Lewis Clark a former American Civil War hero, committed suicide two weeks prior to the 25^th running of the Kentucky Derby. In the early 1900s, Churchill Downs was taken over by the city of Louisville, who for all intents and purposes, continues to run the track today. With the city seemingly coming to the tracks rescue in the early 1900s, the Kentucky Derby grew into one of the most prosperous races in horse racing history.

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What To Consider When Handicapping By Race Track?

February 7, 2012

There seems to be a belief amongst March Madness betting enthusiasts also handicapping horse racing, that venue makes as much of a difference to how a horse performs in a race, as their conditioning or handler. In a few weeks, the thoroughbreds will return to action for another year, after the winter layoff, between November’s Breeders Cup and the racing schedule to determine the field for the Kentucky Derby. As handicappers of both March Madness and horse racing, we take the venue pretty seriously, as how either sports betting niche performs greatly affects their odds. Today we’ll look at what to consider when handicapping by racetrack.

The first thing we look at when handicapping by racetrack, is what the distance is for each course. For all intents and purposes, most horses are trained to run on one mile ovals. Now that doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t run a greater distance, but some horses are built differently then others. Remember, horses are broken down into two categories, speed and pace. The speed horse tends to set the early tempo, and will lead all the way before the pace horse goes from stocking behind the speed horse, to coming on in the final stretch to win a race. That is why MLB fans are shocked to see a horse get off to a slow start, only to see them win the race at the end.

For all of the major tracks not used in the Triple Crown, the distance is one mile. Yet, for the Triple Crown, Churchill Downs is a mile and a quarter, Pimlico is a mile and three 16^ths, and Belmont park is the longest of the three courses at one and a half miles. Since the 1970s no horse has won the Triple Crown, because they haven’t been trained to run on all three tracks. In fact, a lot of injuries have happened, just based on exhaustion of the horse due to the length of the track. Therefore when you handicap the horse, handicap how far they can run.

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How To Handicap Horse Racing

January 25, 2012

Sports betting enthusiast looking for a new sport to gamble upon, should test their luck at horse racing. As one of the oldest sports in the world, horse racing is both very profitable and family friendly. We can remember times in our childhoods that our parents would take us to the racetrack to pick the ponies. Today, we’ll look at how to handicap horse racing, and why it is much easier to do then you may think.

As bookie software agents, we are constantly searching for ways to make handicapping easier and easier. One such way to do that is by purchasing a program from the racecourse you are going to place your bets with. A program is basically, the course’s handicappers putting out information for casual and more experienced bettors to read upon before placing their wagers. In theory, you should be able to pick the horse with the best odds to win the race, from the information provided within the program.

Some of the information in the book includes how long the course is, who the trainers and jockeys are, and the horses pedigree and win loss record. Speaking from experience, we like to look at who the trainers and jockeys are along with the horse’s pedigree and their last five races. Firstly, the trainers and jockey’s are primarily responsible for each individual horse. If a horse finishes in last in five races in a row, the trainer will change up the jockey. On the other hand, if the jockey has an impressive resume, trainers may attempt to acquire their services. For instance, when Uncle Mo pulled out of the Kentucky Derby, Graham Motion the trainer for Animal Kingdom hired his jockey John Velazquez. As a result, Velazquez rode Animal Kingdom to victory at the Kentucky Derby and a second place finish at the Preakness Stakes.

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How To Handicap Pace Horses

January 10, 2012

The main difference between horse racing and sports betting is that the former requires the bettor to reflect on the past. That is to say, when you handicap horse racing, your goal, is to base your prediction of the future race, on how the horse faired the last time out. Whether you look at how fast the horse ran, who the fastest horse in their bloodlines was, or how they faired in their last five races coming up to today’s bookie software race, reflecting on the past can pay huge money to you. Today we’ll be looking at how to handicap a pace horse this season.

The pace horse is a horse that jumps out to an early lead in a race and either looks to run wire to wire, or is eventually overtaken by a speed horse, that builds up their momentum until the final stretch of the race. For instance, in the 2011 Kentucky Derby, Shackleford was a pace horse, as the colt would open races in first, and then ride to the finish line. Depending on the distance of the race, Shackleford would win the race outright, as he did at the Preakness Stakes, or he would end in fourth, as he did at both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. On the other hand, Animal Kingdom is considered to be a distance horse, as the colt loves to come from the back of the pack, in order to close the gap at the end of the race and win outright.

When it comes to actually handicapping a race, one NHL fan must decide, which horse they want to focus their attention on. This is where the reflection paragraph from earlier comes into play. Basically, you want to be able to determine which horse may be the best bet. Meaning to say, a pace horse sets the tempo for the other horses in the race, but a dead closer, while starting slow, may have better odds to close out the race.

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