How to Calculate Fair Odds for the 2025 Kentucky Derby

Fri Apr 25 2025J. Keeler Johnson

Calculating a fair odds line for the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) is a multi-step process, but it helps determine which horse(s) to bet and is worth the effort.
Horse racing betting: What is a bridge jumper?

Tue Apr 22 2025J. Keeler Johnson

The sport of horse racing is filled with specific (and sometimes creative) lingo and jargon. The term “bridge jumper” is an example.
How to pick the winner of a horse race: Step-by-step guide

Tue Mar 04 2025J. Keeler Johnson

Picking the winner of a horse race isn’t as hard as it seems. Even in races with many horses, thorough analysis can consistently uncover winning horses.
Beginner’s guide: How to read horse racing form lines

Tue Feb 25 2025J. Keeler Johnson

In Thoroughbred horse racing, analyzing “the form”—the past performances of each horse in a race—is simpler than it appears.
STUDY: How Thoroughbred sire line success rates vary by racing surface

Tue Feb 25 2025J. Keeler Johnson

Do descendants of Northern Dancer, Mr. Prospector, and Bold Ruler exhibit surface preferences depending on which sire line they hail from? Let’s crunch some numbers and find out.
Kentucky Derby preps: How productive is the Fountain of Youth?

Tue Feb 25 2025J. Keeler Johnson

During the second half of the 20th century, the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park emerged as a pivotal Kentucky Derby (G1) prep race.
Thursday Thoughts with Jason Beem for Feb. 20, 2025

Thu Feb 20 2025Jason Beem

Jason discusses the concept of "hope" within horse racing and betting.
STUDY: Does jockey experience influence win rates and earnings?

Thu Feb 06 2025J. Keeler Johnson

Does the number of years a Thoroughbred jockey has been riding influence their win rate and earnings?
How to handicap horse races in 5 easy steps

Wed Jan 22 2025J. Keeler Johnson

Handicapping horse races doesn’t have to be difficult. A few simple guidelines can steer you down the path to picking winners and placing smart bets.
Scully: Playing the All-Stakes Pick 4 on Friday’s Belmont at Saratoga program

Fri Jun 07 2024James Scully

Friday’s 12-race Belmont at Saratoga program features four stakes, the $500,000 Acorn (G1) for three-year-old fillies and a trio of graded turf events for distaffers, and I have put together a ticket for the all-stakes Pick 4.
NHC to feature record prize money, entries in March

Fri Feb 23 2024TwinSpires Staff

The 25th National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) will be held on March 15-17 at Horseshoe Las Vegas and promises to be bigger and better than ever before, featuring a record number of contestants and prize money.
Tipsheet: 2024 Smarty Jones Stakes

Sat Dec 30 2023John Mucciolo

A talented field of nine will travel 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park on Monday in the $300,000 Smarty Jones S. The 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest offers the top-five finishers qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 structure.
Analyzing rich Dec. 30 carryovers at Fair Grounds, Turfway, Aqueduct, and Gulfstream

Sat Dec 30 2023J. Keeler Johnson

A bevy of lucrative carryovers are up for grabs at racetracks across the United States on the penultimate day of 2023.