2021 archive: This preview describes the pandemic-era running on 1 May 2021. Medina Spirit finished first on the track but was later disqualified; Mandaloun is the official winner. After a year of dealing with a global health crisis, The Kentucky Derby returned to its traditional May date in 2021, with pandemic-related attendance restrictions still in…
Each year thousands of people make their way to the Belmont Stakes where they might get to watch a horse try to win the Triple Crown. Many of those people also sample the Belmont Jewel. This is the official drink of the Belmont Stakes. It is a summer delight that is often served in pitchers…
Being a successful horse racing bettor means that you need to be making profitable bets. Some horse racing bets pay more than others. We have put together a guide to help you understand which horse bet pays the most. We will also try to help you understand a little about value and why it is…
To win at betting horses online you need several things. You need a bankroll. You need patience. You also need to make smart horse racing bets. The difference between winners and losers in horse racing comes down to who is making the best bets. At the end of the day you are competing with other…
A mandatory payout in horse racing is a scheduled force-out of money that would otherwise remain in a carryover or jackpot pool. On the mandatory day, the governing rules require the distributable pool to be paid rather than carrying the designated balance forward again. Mandatory payouts are common in multi-race wagers such as jackpot Pick…
The Breeders’ Cup Fix Six scandal concerned a fraudulent wagering record, not evidence that six races had predetermined sporting results. In the 2002 Pick 6, a compromised ticket threatened the share of the pool due to legitimate customers. Keeping race integrity separate from tote-system integrity is essential to understanding the case. The episode occurred at…
No secret shortcut: a betting “hack” should not be treated as a guaranteed edge. Useful habits are ordinary: verify information, calculate tickets, demand an acceptable price and keep records. Any handicapper worth his or her salt will tell you that there is no shortcut to winning horse racing bets. It takes practice and skill in…
Every type of gambling requires that you have some knowledge of the game you are wagering on. Blackjack players, roulette players, and other gamblers often use cheat sheets to help them remember the basic rules of the betting strategy they are using. We are going to explain how you can make your own horse race…
A Pick 6 payout is determined by the money in the designated pari-mutuel pool and the track’s published distribution rules—not by fixed odds shown when the ticket is placed. After takeout and any rule-defined allocations, the distributable amount is divided among the winning combinations. Carryovers, consolation shares, jackpot conditions, dead heats and mandatory-payout days can…
The Preakness Stakes is staying in Maryland, but the race is temporarily leaving Pimlico while the historic Baltimore track is rebuilt. The 150th Preakness was run at Pimlico in 2025. Demolition began afterward, and the 151st running took place at Laurel Park in 2026. Maryland’s current project schedule expects the Preakness to return to Pimlico…
