“Automatic bet” can mean two different things: a handicapping rule you follow repeatedly, or a platform feature that submits a wager when specified conditions are met. Neither makes a horse a guaranteed winner or establishes that the bets will be profitable. Favorites are not an automatic profit The betting favorite is the runner with the…
A layoff is a gap between races, not proof that a horse was inactive. During that interval a horse may have remained in regular training, received rest, changed barns, recovered from a problem, waited for a suitable race, or followed another program. The past performances show the gap and published activity; they do not reveal…
Workouts are partial evidence: time, spacing and pattern can indicate preparation, but the published line rarely describes effort, company, traffic or trainer intent completely. Read it alongside race experience, pedigree, conditions and the field. Maiden and first-time starter are different A maiden has not won a race. A first-time starter has not yet raced. A…
Some fans of horseracing want to take their interest to another level of participation. Many handicappers have a desire to own a racehorse. It is even more fun when the horse you are betting on is yours. The ownership of a racehorse is an expensive endeavor and beyond the financial capabilities of most individuals. A…
Equipment-change caution: blinkers on or off can affect focus and early position, but the direction and size of the effect are not predictable from the notation alone. A smart handicapper must always be aware of equipment changes. When a horse adds or removes equipment such as blinkers or bandages, this can have significant meaning. The…
Those who like EZ Horse Betting and hope for a Triple Crown horseracing champion will have to wait for another year. The winner of the 2017 Kentucky Derby, Always Dreaming, failed to capture the second leg of the Triple Crown series. Longshot runner Cloud Computing surprised bettors by defeating a 10-horse field in the 142nd…
On May 5, 2017, a full field of 20 horses entered the starting gate at Churchill Downs for the running of the 143rd Kentucky Derby. The race was seen by many as more wide open than it has been in recent years with no clear favorite. A strong case could have been made for almost…
There is nothing to laugh about in the achievements of Distorted Humor. This amazing racehorse had a successful career on the racetrack before being retired to stud and becoming the leading American sire of 2011. His progeny have competed for the Triple Crown and also led their respective circuits in earnings. Still producing offspring today,…
Great racehorses can achieve fame on the racetrack or at stud once their career is over. Some rare champions manage to do both. The legendary Dynaformer was one of these exceptional animals. While only winning 7 of his 30 career starts, Dynaformer earned more than $600,000 in purse money. His success as a competitor was…
Before a horse like American Pharoah can ever capture the elusive Triple Crown of thoroughbred horseracing, there are many hurdles to overcome. Some of these do not even include running in a race! The road to the Triple Crown is a complicated process that begins before a horse is even born. The Triple Crown Nomination…
