When high-class horses lose off layoffs, betting opportunities can arise

Wed Jul 05 2023J. Keeler Johnson

When a high-profile racehorse suffers a defeat in their first run off a layoff, it’s tempting to forgive the misfire and assume they were a bit rusty. But that isn’t always the right betting strategy.
What is a World Pool, and how does it work?

Wed Jun 28 2023J. Keeler Johnson

Once in a while, you might hear the term “World Pool” pop up in reference to international horse racing. Have you ever wondered what it means?
Betting Strategy: Finding an edge as a horseplayer

Fri Jun 23 2023Kevin Kilroy

The individual horseplayer can find an edge from seeing the same thing as everybody else but reacting to it in a different way.
Horsey History in the Tar Heel State: Where Breeding and Racing Have Surprising North Carolina Roots

Fri Jun 23 2023Jennifer Kelly

Though live racing has not been part of the sporting landscape for generations, North Carolina has deep roots in the early history of both Thoroughbred racing and breeding, roots even older than the United States itself. 
The Science of Horse Racing: Four Legs and Infinite Questions

Tue Jun 20 2023Jennifer Kelly

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. 
How track bias and post stats can point out logical winners

Tue Jun 20 2023J. Keeler Johnson

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.
In some graded stakes, historical trends reveal standout contenders

Wed Jun 14 2023J. Keeler Johnson

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.
Tall Tales of the Track: Three Times the Victory

Fri Jun 09 2023Jennifer Kelly

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.
How small fields provide chances to nail exotic wagers

Wed Jun 07 2023J. Keeler Johnson

There is a belief among bettors that small fields make for unappealing betting races. But small fields don’t always mean small payoffs.
The Heart That Wears the Crown: Whirlaway

Fri Jun 02 2023Jennifer Kelly

Whirlaway, the fifth Triple Crown winner, ignited the imaginations of those along for the ride on the cusp of war in 1941.
Sometimes, a horse's distance limitations aren't hard and fast

Wed May 31 2023J. Keeler Johnson

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.
Subtleties in race grades can produce lucrative payoffs

Wed May 24 2023J. Keeler Johnson

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.
The Science of Horse Racing: We're All Ears

Sun May 21 2023Jennifer Kelly

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.