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The Science of Horse Racing: Four Legs and Infinite Questions
Injuries to a horse’s leg bones can mean a range of outcomes, requiring everything from simply time to heal to ultimately having to let go of a beloved companion. From Spanish Riddle to Epicenter, the reality of the legs’ structures makes treatment and recovery a tenuous and difficult outcome that is dependent on a number of variables.
Racing
How track bias and post stats can point out logical winners
Finding a near-certain winner in a horse race isn’t easy, but analyzing track bias and post position statistics can help uncover the likeliest of winners.
Education
In some graded stakes, historical trends reveal standout contenders
Some races are dominated by a particular type of horse year after year, and bettors attuned to these trends have a better-than-average chance to cash nice payoffs.
Education
Tall Tales of the Track: Three Times the Victory
The Carter Handicap has long been a feature of the New York stakes schedule. Inaugurated in 1895, the race is named for William Carter, a tugboat captain and Brooklyn contractor who put up a portion of the purse money and the trophy for his namesake race. Both Aqueduct and Belmont Park have hosted the Carter, but for the majority of its history, it has been contested at Aqueduct, where, in 1944, something singular happened.
Features
How small fields provide chances to nail exotic wagers
There is a belief among bettors that small fields make for unappealing betting races. But small fields don’t always mean small payoffs.
Education
The Heart That Wears the Crown: Whirlaway
Whirlaway, the fifth Triple Crown winner, ignited the imaginations of those along for the ride on the cusp of war in 1941.
Triple Crown
Sometimes, a horse's distance limitations aren't hard and fast
Not all racehorses run best over the same distances. Some are sprinters who tire running farther than six or seven furlongs, while others are route racers who thrive racing 1 1/8 miles and farther.
Education
Subtleties in race grades can produce lucrative payoffs
You might assume that a Grade 1 race is better than a Grade 2, and a Grade 2 is better than a Grade 3. That’s a good rule of thumb, but it doesn’t always hold true.
Racing
The Science of Horse Racing: We're All Ears
Understanding the language of a horse’s ears as well as the impact of what they hear on their behavior can help us gain insight into our athletic partners on the track and off.
Racing
How Kentucky Derby Winners Have Fared in Preakness Stakes
The 13 Triple Crown winners captured both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1) en route to the Belmont (G1), but that just scratches the surface of the impact of the Run for the Roses on the middle jewel.
Preakness Stakes
Watch out when route runners are actually sprinters
It’s not uncommon to see young horses run well in their first route race, only to falter in subsequent two-turn events. A single victory running long isn’t always indicative of a true route racer in the making.
Education
Tall Tales of the Track: Bourbon, Bets, and the Beatles
The combination of a well-timed swig of bourbon, a fortuitous wager, and a basement music club made history not just in horse racing, but also in rock and roll.
Features
Betting Strategy: Free Roll for a Seat at the NHC
The second of five free online qualifiers for the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) is set for this Sunday, May 14.
Features
The Heart That Wears the Crown: War Admiral
Lofty expectations are laid upon the greats when they exit stage left to enter the next phase. When Man o’ War said goodbye to his life on the track, the focus then became on whether the 20th century’s greatest racehorse could produce another one like him. Whatever it was that made Big Red so dominant and so iconic had to be passed along to his progeny, but what would that look like?
Triple Crown
When analyzing layoffs, sometimes basic handicapping trumps all
There are many ways handicappers can gauge whether a horse is ready to win off a long layoff. One of the simplest is, has the horse shown the ability to win a race like the one you’re handicapping?
Education
Catching My Eye: Brian Hernandez Jr. and Reylu Gutierrez at Keeneland
Two jockeys had big days at Keeneland on Saturday. Brian Hernandez Jr. won three races including piloting home 13-1 Aunt Becca, and Rey Gutierrez bagged two, most impressively aboard 12-1 Front Run the Fed.
Analysis
When it comes to trainer stats, nuance matters
Trainer stats are among the most valuable tools horseplayers have at their disposal. But a trainer’s overall win percentage is only one part of the story.
Education
When three-year-olds face older horses, the class level matters
Traditional handicapping guidance explains that three-year-old Thoroughbreds are rarely ready to challenge older horses before autumn. But the equation can change at lower class levels.
Racing
Betting Strategy: Chris Larmey, “Nobody wants to be a fish"
To succeed long term, a horseplayer needs to know how to bet in order to cash in. Chris Larmey has begun a new podcast “Bet With the Best” aimed at exactly that.
Education
Should you bet or dismiss a horse off a bad race?
It happens all the time. A horse enters a race off a poor performance in its previous start, leaving bettors to wonder—will the horse rebound, or run badly again?
Education
The Heart that Wears the Crown: Omaha
When any Triple Crown winner goes to stud, the high expectations set by winning that coveted trophy come along, as fans eagerly anticipate the next generation. Can he copy himself and produce another just like him? Of the 13 to have worn the crown, only one has done what is nearly impossible, a feat unlikely to be duplicated anytime soon: siring another Triple Crown winner.
Education
Pedigree lingo: Phrases to known in horse racing
Words like “sire,” “dam,” and “broodmare” don’t necessarily mean a lot to those unfamiliar with horses or horse racing. Fortunately, the lingo isn’t as complicated as it sounds.
Racing
How and when to bet a Power Box
Boxing bets. There have always been pros and cons to this catch-all strategy. If only there were a way to box bets in a more nuanced manner. Well guess what? That’s what a Power Box is for.
Racing
What is the Place Pick All, and how do you bet it?
Once in a while you’ll see a racetrack offer a less common type of wager. One example is the “Place Pick All”.
Education
What is a key race, and how do you identify one?
Have you ever heard of a “key race?” A key race is a race from which a large number of participants return to win or run well the next time they compete.
Racing
When to bet (or not bet) the trifecta
The trifecta often seems like the perfect exotic wager. But some situations are more suitable for trifecta betting than others.
Education
When you should (or shouldn't) bet a Pick 6
Effectively betting a Pick 6 can be difficult and expensive. These guidelines help you determine when you should (or shouldn’t) bet a Pick 6.
Education
Why it pays to look beyond a horse's most recent race
Horses aren’t machines, and any number of events can trigger a poor performance. Knowing when to forgive a subpar result is often the key to cashing tickets.
Education
G1-to-maiden class drop can be surprisingly lucrative
One of the most extreme examples of "dropping in class" occurs when a horse exits a Grade 1 race (the highest class there is) and enters a maiden race (restricted to horses who have never won a race).
Education
When to bet to place (or not)
The place bet can be a tricky wager to properly play. Not because it’s complicated to understand, but because executing a sound strategy that capitalizes on your opinions is easier said than done.
Education
Using Stable Alerts as a handicapping tool
If you’ve ever missed a bet because you weren’t aware your preferred horse was entered to race, we have good news. Stable Alerts from TwinSpires let you know when it’s time to bet.
Education
The Science of Horse Racing: Foaling the Future
Let’s look at the process of foaling and how our favorite racehorses went from safe inside a broodmare’s womb to taking their first steps toward greatness.
Education
The best way to decide and create a place bet
When carefully executed, the place bet can play a useful role in a bettor’s arsenal of handicapping strategies.
Education
The best way to decide and create a show bet
As strange as it might sound, the horse racing wager that's easiest to hit is one of the trickiest to understand on a technical level.
Racing
The best way to decide and create a win bet
The win bet is the purest way to wager on a horse race. All you have to do is pick the winning horse. But deciding which horse to bet can quickly grow complicated.
Education
How trainer and sire stats can combine for enticing payoffs
When betting maiden races filled with unraced horses, win percentage stats come in handy. They consistently steer bettors toward live contenders in races that might otherwise be inscrutable.
Racing
The Science of Racing: The Starting Gate
It is a sight as familiar to racegoers as the horses themselves: the starting gate. As the minutes to the next race tick by, a tractor pulls this mechanical wonder to the right spot on the racetrack, dirt or turf, and draws the eyes of everyone present.
Education
How trainer stats can point toward future stakes winners
When a horse defies the stats and wins at first asking for a low-percentage debut trainer, you might be looking at a special horse. Maybe even a stakes winner.
Racing
What is a jockey weight allowance?
In the sport of horse racing, the amount of weight carried by each horse has long been varied to account for differences in age, gender, and ability. Or, in some cases, the experience of their jockey.
Racing
The Science of Horse Racing: Colic and Laminitis
Both colic and laminitis come up as health issues that affect horses both on the racetrack and off.
Education
Oaklawn Park: How scrutinizing race conditions can be beneficial
The first thing bettors should generally do before handicapping a race is read and comprehend its conditions.
Education
Why horses tackling multiple major changes can outrun their odds
Sometimes, a racehorse will tackle so many changes at once it’s impossible to project how they'll perform. But the “change everything” approach can occasionally reap big dividends.
Education
Catching My Eye: Two Angles to find prices at Fair Grounds, Part One
Four weeks in at Fair Grounds, racing analyst Kevin Kilroy has found two handicapping angles that have been key for finding price horses.
Features
True Crime in Horse Racing: Shergar, Stallion Lost
This month, we explore the ultimate cold case in horse racing, an international mystery that captivates to this day. Who kidnapped Shergar and why?
Features
How sire stats and racing records can uncover winners
Sometimes, combining a little pedigree knowledge with the sire stats and performance data found in Brisnet Ultimate Past Performances is all you need to uncover a lucrative betting payday.
Education
Off-the-turf races can present enticing betting opportunities
When races slated to take place on turf are instead transferred to dirt or synthetic, enticing betting opportunities can arise.
Education
Fair Grounds meet horseplayer preview: Louisiana circuit insights
Here are some things to know about Fair Grounds and the Louisiana circuit to help sharpen your edge.
Analysis
Brisnet Speed ratings can make small fields playable
The power of speed figures—and specifically the Brisnet Speed ratings published in Brisnet Ultimate Past Performances—came to the forefront in the 2022 Bob Hope (G3) at Del Mar.
Education
The Science of Horse Racing: Why Do Jockeys Ride Like That?
The race rider’s stance has gone from straight in the saddle to a balanced squat over the withers, a change that started with one legendary jockey and was soon adopted worldwide. This month’s Science of Horse Racing examines both how this change came about and why this demanding position works for both horse and rider.
Education
Pick 5 Play Fair Grounds: Saturday, Nov. 19
It’s important to have a strong opinion in one of the first two legs of this sequence at Fair Grounds.
Racing
The power of Brisnet Late Pace ratings
Among the many handicapping tools found in Brisnet Ultimate Past Performances are Brisnet Late Pace ratings. Their power was evident during 2022 Breeders' Cup week.
Racing
The Science of Horse Racing: Track Surfaces
This month’s Science of Horse Racing considers the three types of surfaces and how weather and geography play into our understanding of how horses race over those tracks.
Education
Exploring the effects of left-handed, right-handed, and straight racecourses
In the U.S., practically all Thoroughbred horse races feature at least one left-handed turn for the runners to negotiate. But racing around left-handed turns is far from standard on the global stage.
Education
4 reasons you should bet turf races
Some of the most famous horse races in the United States are contested on dirt, including the Kentucky Derby (G1). But turf races often provide the best betting opportunities for horseplayers.
Racing
5 positive signs when betting on unraced horses
It can be tricky for inexperienced horseplayers to bet on maiden races filled with unraced horses. How is it possible to predict the performances of horses who have never run?
Education
Betting Strategies: Pool Selection with Geoff Riggs
Born the day after his parents’ annual Kentucky Derby party, Louisville native Geoff Riggs’s love of horse racing was fated.
Racing
How can field size affect betting payoffs?
It’s common to hear horseplayers and racing analysts talk about field size, but they’re not referring to the acreage of open land. They’re referring to the number of horses entered in a race.
Racing
How to calculate the cost of a multi-race wager
Have you ever wondered how to calculate the price of a multi-race wager? Wonder no longer, because it’s easy and straightforward.
Racing
Furlongs, miles, and meters: How do race distances compare?
In the United States, the distance of a horse race is measured in furlongs and/or miles. But this isn’t the case in many other racing nations.
Racing
Betting Strategies: Scully's Superfecta Structure
Halfway through the Kentucky Downs meet, it’s not too late to take a few swings at a big superfecta score. With that in mind, I spoke to a horseplayer who has had phenomenal success playing the superfecta, James Scully.
Racing
Is a jockey change enough reason to avoid betting a horse?
When a high-profile jockey takes over riding a horse, bettors sit up and take notice. But have you ever wondered if a jockey change is ever enough reason to avoid betting a horse?
Education
When betting favorites in exotic wagers, watch your ROI
When betting a heavy favorite in a horse race, it can be tempting to skip a low-paying win bet and play complicated exotic wagers instead.
Education
5 times you should consider opposing the betting favorite
How can you tell when a betting favorite is vulnerable to defeat? Here are five common examples of when a favorite might not be trustworthy.
Racing
The Science of Racing: Vision and Blinkers
The Science of Racing looks at a horse’s vision and how changing the way they see the world around them can affect performance.
Education
Why planning bets in advance can be helpful
There’s something to be said for structuring betting strategies close to post time, when race-day changes are known and the odds are clearer. But there are also benefits to planning your bets early.
Education
Betting Strategies: Live Money Tournament Advice from Matt Miller
Winner of the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge, Matt Miller knows what it takes to formulate a winning live money tournament game plan.
Racing
3 ways to maximize value betting against favorites
Betting favorites isn’t the worst strategy in horse racing, but they lose more often than not. If you can find the right horse(s) to play in place of a favorite, you’re in line for lucrative payoffs.
Education
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast: Aug. 10, 2022
Jason opens the show looking back at yesterday's big Pick 5 sequence at Colonial Downs. Then he welcomes in Colonial Downs Track Surfaces Superintendent Harrison Young to talk about maintaining turf and dirt courses, rail settings, fighting track bias, and more!
Racing Podcast
What is a fair odds line, and how do you make one?
When betting on horse races, picking the right horse is only half the equation. Since it’s basically impossible to pick 100% winners, betting when the odds are suitable is a key to long-term success.
Education
Betting Strategies: Finding value when a race has two heavy favorites
This past Thursday’s $194,000 Birdstone S. at Saratoga presented a textbook scenario that vertical players should always be on the lookout for.
Education
Step-by-step: How to bet a superfecta
If you’re a horse racing bettor comfortable playing wagers like the exacta and trifecta, the superfecta is the next logical bet to pursue.
Education
Betting Strategies: 'It all depends on what you are trying to make from the race'
Sara and I spoke over the phone on Friday about her betting strategies, and she offers up her Late Pick 5 at Saratoga for Saturday.
Education
Pros and cons of boxing your bets
When horse racing bettors talk about boxing wagers, they’re referring to a specific wagering strategy for bets like the exacta, trifecta, and superfecta.
Racing
The Science of Horse Racing: Hooves and Horseshoes
For this month’s the Science of Horse Racing, let’s play some horseshoes and learn a little about hooves, plates, and more.
Racing
Step-by-step: Building a Pick 4 ticket
Of all the multi-race wagers in horse racing, the Pick 4 is among the most popular. It’s challenging enough to produce solid payoffs while remaining relatively budget-friendly for small bettors.
Education
Exacta vs. quinella vs. Omni/Swinger: Which should you bet?
Fans of international horse racing know there are three similar but distinct exotic wagers found on a typical betting menu: the exacta, the quinella, and the Omni/Swinger.
Racing
Step-by-step: How to bet a Pick 5
The Pick 5 is one of the most popular wagers in horse racing, and for many good reasons. If you’re wondering how to bet a Pick 5, we have you covered.
Education
What are Omni/Swinger bets, and how do you play them?
If you’ve ever dipped your toes into betting on international horse racing, you’ve probably noticed an unfamiliar bet type called the Omni/Swinger. But how hard is the Omni/Swinger to play and hit?
Racing
How to handicap Royal Ascot stakes for juveniles
One of the distinguishing features of Royal Ascot is the six stakes devoted to two-year-olds during the annual five-day meeting.
Racing
What are claiming races? Here are the basics
In North America, claiming races are among the most common types of Thoroughbred horse races conducted at racetracks across the continent. But what exactly are they?
Education
What are Brisnet Speed and Pace rating pars?
Have you ever wondered how to use Brisnet Speed and Pace rating pars? Let's dive in and explore what they offer.
Education
Fact or myth: Are all North American dirt tracks one mile in circumference?
If you follow North American horse racing, perhaps you've come to believe the vast majority of Thoroughbred racetracks are one-mile dirt ovals. But is that really the case?
Racing
What are Brisnet Speed and Pace ratings?
Once upon a time, a long time ago, judging raw pace fractions and final times was the only way to gauge the speed of a race. Then speed figures burst on to the scene and changed everything.
Education
5 Preakness handicapping trends to consider
To enhance our understanding of Pimlico’s signature 1 3/16-mile race, let’s explore five Preakness (G1) handicapping trends worth keeping in mind.
Racing
Explaining program numbers and post positions
If you’re just getting started betting on Thoroughbred horse races, it can be easy to confuse program numbers and post position numbers. It's important to know they're not always the same.
Racing
What is the Kentucky Oaks/Derby Double?
When the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) roll around, it’s common to hear handicappers discuss their plays for the “Oaks/Derby Double.” But have you ever wondered what this wager entails?
Racing
Top 10 Preakness trends
To get you ready for the second leg of the Triple Crown, let's look back on the last decade of races, as we examine the top 10 Preakness racing trends.
Racing
How to read a Brisnet horse racing program
Have you ever wondered how to read a racing program? Then you’ve come to the right place.
Racing
The Science of Horse Racing: Changing Leads
Horses can switch their leading leg, called changing leads, during every type of stride.
Racing
Pari-mutuel vs. fixed-odds wagering: How are they different?
Sports bettors are accustomed to fixed-odds wagering. Horse racing bettors are widely familiar with pari-mutuel wagering. But how do they differ? And is one better than the other?
Racing
What happens when a horse race is "off the turf?"
Perhaps you’ve heard of horse races being taken “off the turf.” But unless you’re familiar with racing lingo and the broad workings of the sport, the meaning of the phrase isn’t necessarily obvious.
Education
How to read horse racing workout lines
Reviewing workouts is a key component when analyzing unraced horses or horses returning from long breaks. We'll teach you how to read all the numbers and abbreviations involved in workout lines.
Racing
Recent trends in the San Felipe Stakes
The $400,000 San Felipe S. (G2) has a recent history (2010 onwards) that's been slightly different than other races we've explored this week.
Trends
Recent trends in the Fountain of Youth Stakes
Arguably the most anticipated of the Kentucky Derby (G1) preps on Saturday is the $400,000 Fountain of Youth S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Here are some recent trends worth noting about the Fountain of Youth since 2010.
Trends
What is a turf course? Everything you need to know
You’ve probably gathered that many horse races take place on grass. Others, it seems, take place on turf. Or are they one and the same?
Education
Recent trends in the Gotham Stakes
The Gotham S. (G3) will be the first of four Kentucky Derby (G1) point-scoring races on March 5. Here are three trends worth noting about the Aqueduct fixture since 2010.
Racing
How to bet parlays in horse racing
If you’re willing to put in a little extra effort, it’s possible to play parlays in horse racing. And the results can be lucrative.
Racing
Recent trends in the Risen Star Stakes
Here are three things to know about the recent history of the Risen Star.
Trends