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.
How Kentucky Derby Winners Have Fared in Preakness Stakes

Sat May 20 2023Kellie Reilly

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.
Watch out when route runners are actually sprinters

Wed May 17 2023J. Keeler Johnson

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.
Tall Tales of the Track: Bourbon, Bets, and the Beatles

Tue May 16 2023Jennifer Kelly

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.
Betting Strategy: Free Roll for a Seat at the NHC

Sat May 13 2023Kevin Kilroy

The second of five free online qualifiers for the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) is set for this Sunday, May 14.
The Heart That Wears the Crown: War Admiral

Fri May 12 2023Jennifer Kelly

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?
When analyzing layoffs, sometimes basic handicapping trumps all

Wed May 10 2023J. Keeler Johnson

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?
Catching My Eye: Brian Hernandez Jr. and Reylu Gutierrez at Keeneland

Tue Apr 25 2023Kevin Kilroy

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.