The Stands Are Empty, The Competition Is Vicious October 31st, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

“The stands are empty, the competition is vicious, the typical fan is old and gray, the media seems to have forgotten that the sport exists.”  That was the lead sentence of an article about horse racing written by Bill Finley.  The artcile appeared in the New York Daily News on February 4, 1996.  It is now more than thirteen years later and not much has changed.

During that thirteen years, gambling as a whole has enjoyed explosive growth.  Thirty-eight states now have casinos.  New casinos are being proposed.  Existing casinos are expanding the number of slot machines they have.  Every one of those casinos is competiton for the horse racing industry.  Yet no one seems to want to admit it.

The attendance on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at Santa Anita, perhaps the greatest horse racing venue in existence, was listed as 9008.  In the 1970s and 1980s the stands at Santa Anita on a Saturady were always packed.

In 1985, a single-day attendance record was achieved when 85,527 people were on hand to watch the Santa Anita Handicap.  This year only 31,496 were at the track for the 72nd running of that race.

Last year Santa Anita hosted 14 Breeders’ Cup races over a two day period.  The end-of-the-year extravaganza brought together some of the finest horses in the world.  You would think the single-day attendance record would have been broken. Yet the total attendance for the two days was only 86,858.

So why is attendance at major tracks like Santa Anita not what it should be?  Are people staying home to watch these big races on television?  Perhaps that could be said for the Breeders’ Cup races.  ESPN televised both days last year and will do so again this year.

But I think the answer lies elsewhere.  In 1996 the median age of horseplayers was 56.  It doesn’t seem to have gotten any younger.  If anything, it has gotten older.

Which begs the question: What is the horse racing industry doing to attract younger horseplayers?

-30-

Gerald Cohail has been handicapping horse races for more than 50 years. To see more of Gerald’s horse racing insights and get your Free copy of “Treat Horse Race Wagering Like A Business” visit HandicappingResearch.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/horse-racing-articles/the-stands-are-empty-the-competition-is-vicious-1355960.html

Is Horse Racing Handicapping Any More Risky or Crooked than the Stock Exchange? October 30th, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

Another wealthy Wall Street trader just made the news when he got arrested and charged with insider trading.  Betting on horses has been compared to playing the stock market by horse players and investors alike.  But just how crooked are the races and how crooked are the markets?

A good investor can accumulate wealth on the markets, but it can all be wiped out by a Bernie Madoff type or some other scammer, such as an inside trader.  In horse racing, you never know if the fix is on, though some of the things you see certainly make you wonder.  The truth of the matter is that both endeavors involve the ingredients for chicanery; money, people, greed.

I grew up on a farm and learned the truth of the old saying,” Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”  That certainly holds true when it comes to investing.

You can make money investing and also betting on horse races, but the operative word is “make.”  It isn’t done without some effort and vigilance on your part.  In horseracing vigilance means don’t put yourself in a position where a person who has a good reason for losing a race is your bet.  In other words, betting big favorites is crazy, especially in races with small purses and no prestige.

Don’t just look at your bet in terms of risk and reward to yourself, but also in terms of what the players, i.e., jockey, owner, trainer, stand to gain from a win or loss.  Sometimes, a trainer can stiff his or her horse and make more betting against it.  There are other times when the trainer is honest but the rider has instructions to lose from an outside source.

Think you have the savvy to see this on the toteboard?  Think again, Sherlock.  What you see on the toteboard may only be a small portion of the real money that is wagered on that race and it may be dispersed quite differently than the sums you see in front of you.

There are offshore sports books and bookies that still take action, sometimes a lot of action, on races run right here in the U.S.A.  That means that the horse at 3/5 according to the track’s toteboard may not have as much money bet on it off shore or in other venues.  In fact, something called seeding goes on.

People who bet offshore still watch the track toteboard odds to determine some of their bets as do the sports book operators.  So a wise guy may dump ten grand on a horse to push it into prohibitive favorite status on the track tote but then bet $50,000 or more to win on another horse in the same race.  That other horse may be part of a fix, along with the favorite that will be stiffed.  The crowd, including the ones who bet the offshore venues, see the favorite is getting what they think is lots of action so they pile it on.

And where does most of that money go?  Right to the wise guy who fixed the race.  This is less likely to happen at the bigger tracks and in high profile or large purse races, but no race is completely safe.  One way to avoid this is never ever jump on the bandwagon with a big favorite.  There are just too many reasons for that horse to lose.

The most consistent horse racing systems have to have the basics and a handicapper must understand the basics. I have been around horse racing for 50 years including as an owner. Without the basics the rest is not going to do any good. If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth.

Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. He comes from a horse race handicapping family and as he puts it, “Horse Racing is in my blood.” To see all Bill’s horse racing material go to http://williewins.homestead.com/handicappingstore.html , Bill’s handicapping store.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/horse-racing-articles/is-horse-racing-handicapping-any-more-risky-or-crooked-than-the-stock-exchange-1356167.html

Speed Gifted misses Melbourne Cup October 30th, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

Speed Gifted is withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup having pulled up sore after running a disappointing 12th in his last outing.
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Skirts and Fenders Where You Least Expect October 30th, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

The use of the Country faculty is much that the use of the equal promise in variant contexts can provide significantly varying meanings to the evince. It can be quite a perplexing emerge and of class one must sense sorry for those that do not know Arts as their premiere language as it must be implausibly awkward to larn.

Two eager examples of this are the line border and cowcatcher. You would not often judge them to be old together as certainly contact refers to an fact of ladies aggregation and a fender is what you get on a car? Shaft this is of direction legitimate but these two texts also intend to two single parts of Hesperian seat design and they are two of exclusive cardinal parts to this equipment.

Source of this article: Skirts and Fenders Where You Least Expect

A feature compel is a part write of command that is victimized for grouping that are piercing on enjoying their horse athletics in a destined way. It substance that they are fit to view themselves differently to the way they would in another type of notch. The slang actually comes from the days of the Savage Actress and the images that we soul seen in uncounted movies of cowboys equitation with exclusive one handbreadths on the reins.

Piece this typewrite of equitation looks corking the parts of Midwestern require are fashioned to ensure that a traveler is fit to do this because the notch is improved to secure that a cattleman or what some power meet a farm forepaw, is fit to do their line. So they necessity exclusive use one side to custody the reins and the new crewman can book a get for lassoing the cattle (it really does hap) and also a dig if needful when they are gregarious the bovine.

The parts of southwestern command all locomotive together to insure the traveler’s cognition and who knows what new absorbing text are victimized in the cattleman communication.

You can find more information about Western saddles at http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=2112012, where you can read about parts of a Western saddle.

Andre writes articles on different fields of interest.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/horse-racing-articles/skirts-and-fenders-where-you-least-expect-1372441.html

Gamblers And Horse Racing Fans NEED A Good Luck Crystal In Their Pocket For Big Winnings! October 29th, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

Father Time’s Magical Mystical Good Luck Crystal just might be able to help YOU win more money at the horse track, dog track, casino, or card game table! If you are interested in gambling, in any of the fun forms that it takes, then you probably know how some people are superstitious about it! Some folks blow on the dice, rub the tickets on their head, or someone else’s head. Some people carry a good luck charm, amulet, or talisman for added good luck!

Of course, good luck items are always said to be sold as a curio for entertainment purposes only, and that is fine because we all know that they still sometimes have amazing results! Father Time’s Magical Mystical Good Luck Crystal is a nice, round, usually smooth, clear quartz crystal that is usually less than an inch long, and no two are identical in shape or appearance!

Clear quartz crystals are a popular component of the Earth’s crust and they are often believed to have some magical and lucky powers! The crystals that bring a person luck, can help with much more than gambling and attracting money…they can also help with attracting romance or a mate, success at school or work, help with a court case, and even give a person strength to overcome bad habits such as overeating or smoking!

If there is anything that you need to accomplish, perhaps you should try a Magical Lucky Crystal!? What have you got to lose? For less than the cost of a couple of movie tickets, you can get a triple-strength, ritually-charged Crystal and maybe you will start on a huge winning streak!

My name is Father Time and if you want to see and perhaps get one of these, Please Click Here For Good Luck Crystals! These are a huge seller on my website where I also have other great gift items, self defense pepper sprays, jewelry, and a cool eBook about How To Make Money From Home!

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Many Blessings!

Father Time has been a published writer for over thirty two years and particularly focuses on motivational and self-help writing and speaking! He also has many years of sales experience and writes sales & marketing training and materials. His first love is poetry and greeting card verses! He has a fabulous new eBook out that features over 111 Ideas How YOU Can Make Money From Home With Your Very Own Home Based Business!

Father Time currently does a lot of writing for hire, especially article marketing pieces for folks who have their own websites to promote. IF you have a website, you should contact him for some good writing to promote your site; right away! You will be glad that you did!

Father Time deals in wholesale merchandise of a wide variety, and is especially fond of helping people who need to earn extra cash, by allowing them to buy a small quantity of wholesale items for the purposes of reselling them for a cash profit.

Father Time has a great website at www.FatherTimePublishing.com If YOU, as a reader of this website, are simply purchasing merchandise at retail, YOU can save an additional 15% off of the normal merchandise. (Sorry, discount does not apply to writing, readings by e-mail, eBooks, or on bulk packages) The coupon code is: SaveNow

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/horse-racing-articles/gamblers-and-horse-racing-fans-need-a-good-luck-crystal-in-their-pocket-for-big-winnings-1396350.html

Simply the Best – A Review October 28th, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

In the UK the 2009/10 Nation Hunt season is about to get into full swing. Well known horse race system developer Bernard Hibbett has come up with a new system designed to find jump winners between November and April next year. Bernard calls the system “Simply the Best” and judging by past results it could be just that.
Simply the Best system does live up to its name by being really is simple. In fact it made even more so by the fact that when you purchase the system you will be entitled to receive either access to Bernard’s telephone service or access to his secure Internet website right through until the end of April.. As the selections will be posted to you daily do not even have to work them out yourself. However, whether you really need this service I am not sure as it is very easy and quick to pick out the daily selections.
The true test of how good a system is the past results that have been achieved. Although past results are no guarantee of success they can be a good guide. Over the last two National Hunt seasons the system has produced 199 winners from 532 selections which represent a 37.5% success rate. .
Over those 2 seasons Simply the Best has shown a profit of 753 points to level stakes.
This represents profit of £3,760 per season based on a level stake of £10 using bookies SP.
The total cost of the package is £95 for which you receive the complete system document with results and daily selection for 6 months. This works out at about 50p (70 cents) a day. When you consider the potential of this system it does seem good value.
The only slight downside that I can see is that the information is really only relevant for the current season. However, if the results for the 2009/10 system are as good as they have been for the last two years then I will not object to buying a new copy next year.
Anything that comes from Bernard Hibbett is well worth taking a look at and I shall be adding this system to my portfolio. I shall start using it with the Ascot Meeting that begins on 31st October and will look forward to a successful 2009/10 NH season.

Author Bio

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/horse-racing-articles/simply-the-best-a-review-1389810.html

Stars to breed with Arc heroine October 28th, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

Sea The Stars is set to generate £10m annually in breeding fees and will mate with fellow Arc winner Zarkava at the Aga Khan’s Irish stud.
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Stars to breed with Arc heroine October 28th, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

Sea The Stars is set to generate £10m annually in breeding fees and will mate with fellow Arc winner Zarkava at the Aga Khan’s Irish stud.
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Horse Racing Handicapping Tips for Using Breeding, Precocity, and Late Bloomers October 27th, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

There is money to be made handicapping and betting on maiden races.  The fact that maiden races continue to produce a large number of winning favorites indicates that maiden horse races are not as difficult to handicap as some other races.

One of the biggest reasons for this is that breeding can be used to such a great extent.  Certain sires and dam sires are known for producing precocious off spring.  There are other sires who produce what I call late bloomers.  They are the ones who seem to need more time to mature and usually don’t win until they are 3 or even 4 years old.

One of the scenarios I look for is a race for older maidens that has a horse coming back to the races at 4 years old that is from a late bloomer sire.  I usually like to see the horse have one or two races, but many times, if the trainer is sharp and there is a good rider up, I will bet a late bloomer on its first race back after a lay-off providing it has a consistent workout history.

By a consistent workout history, I mean that I like to see that the horse has worked every week and the workouts have gotten faster.  I also like it when they work in company of other horses or have a good blowout work hidden in there two or three workouts back.  Look for that pattern and you will find some big payoffs because these 4 year olds have been disappointing the bettors for several years.

The fact that the trainer and owner didn’t give up on the runner is a good indication that there is talent there and they expect to see it produce when the horsed is 4 or sometimes even 5, though that is an extreme case.

The most consistent horse racing systems have to have the basics and a handicapper must understand the basics. I have been around horse racing for 50 years including as an owner. Without the basics the rest is not going to do any good. If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/truecb.html and get the truth.

Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. He comes from a horse race handicapping family and as he puts it, “Horse Racing is in my blood.” To see all Bill’s horse racing material go to http://williewins.homestead.com/handicappingstore.html , Bill’s handicapping store.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/horse-racing-articles/horse-racing-handicapping-tips-for-using-breeding-precocity-and-late-bloomers-1378194.html

What is a claiming race in horse racing? October 27th, 2009 | Horse Racing | 2 Comments »

What is a claiming race in horse racing? I’ve heard of it, but never understood why it is called a claiming race, and what is the purpose of one. Just everything you know on this type of race for.

To understand claiming races, you first have to understand that not all horses are competitive at the top or even the middle levels of racing. Claiming races are a way for horse owners and trainers to find a place for horses that aren’t top quality to be competitive.

A claiming race is a race in which any of the horses entered may be purchased (claimed) out of the race by any person who is eligible to claim a horse at that meeting. Claiming races are written for several price levels: the bottom level at most major race tracks is around $8000-12,500; mid-level is from $15,000-40,000, and high-level claiming races are for $45,000 on up.

To be eligible to claim a horse, a person has to be a licensed owner who has either already started a horse at that particular race meeting, or who has an "open claim" permit because their last horse was claimed away from them at a just-concluded race meet (usually a meet within the same state). If a person wants to claim horses and is eligible to claim horses, they have to deposit sufficient money to cover the claiming price plus sales tax with the horsemen’s bookkeeper at the track.

When a horse is entered into a claiming race, if someone wants to claim it, they go to the racing secretary’s office and fill out a claim form. This has to be dropped into the claiming box within a specified time, usually half an hour before the scheduled start of the race.

Once the horse is in the starting gate, the moment the gate opens, the person who has claimed the horse becomes his owner. (However, if the horse wins the race or earns money in the race, the money goes to the owner who entered him in the race.) Whatever happens in the race, even if the horse is injured and has to be euthanized, it belongs to the person who claimed it.

If more than one person has put in a claim for the same horse, they "shake" for it (draw lots). The person who wins the shake becomes the horse’s owner.

If you watch claiming races, when the horses come back for the jockeys to weigh out, you can tell if a horse has been claimed because one of the racetrack officials will clip a large "CLAIM" tag to the horse’s halter. When you see that, you know the horse is going to a new barn. The new owner takes immediate possession of the horse.

It has happened that someone from whom a horse has been claimed has refused to relinquish the ownership of the horse. This usually results in the loss of the person’s owners license.

Because of claiming races, people who can’t afford to buy a horse that is competitive in allowance races or stakes races can still own a racehorse. You do risk losing the horse, but that’s a risk you have to take if you want your horse to compete at a level where he can win.

Most racetracks card "optional claiming" and "starter allowance" races to give people who own claiming horses a chance to run them without risking having them claimed. In "optional claiming," if your horse has run for a claiming price within a certain period of time, you can enter him in the race without putting a claiming price on him. This way he’s running against horses at his proper level but the owner doesn’t risk losing him.

In "Starter allowance" races, horses that have been run for a claiming price within a specified period of time are eligible for an allowance race written for them, and none of the horses in the starter allowance has a claiming price. Racing secretaries will usually try to card a series of starter allowance races for the claiming horses on the grounds, because they’re popular with owners and trainers and usually draw good-sized fields, which means a good-sized pari-mutuel handle.

Hope that helps!

Harness Racing Handicapping Systems Tips Using Speed Figures or Times for Shippers October 27th, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

Handicapping harness races is a matter of determining how each horse will perform based upon past performances and projected times and pace.  The introduction of speed figures has helped some handicappers while others still rely on raw times and quarter fractions.  Shippers pose a particularly thorny problem because we are forced to use their performances from another track to try to determine how they will do on a new surface and oval.

Speed figures, while not perfect, are adjusted for surface condition, variants, post position, and the track itself.  It is possible to compare a horse shipping from another track because the times are adjusted accordingly.  We used to have to get our lists of tracks out and figure if one track was faster or slower than another. Some people are still using that method.

Picking winners is no more profitable, however, because everyone has access to those speed figures.  Also, like all human inventions, speed figures aren’t perfect.  Not only that, but though Standardbred horses are very reliable and consistent, they don’t always adapt to a new track as well and may not perform well on the new surface.

So how can you use times or speed figures and make a profit betting on harness races?  First of all, do not take a short price on any shipper.  I don’t care how good the horse looks on paper, if it hasn’t proven what it can do on today’s track and surface, be skeptical and demand a good price or skip the race.

Secondly, if you can watch the horse work over the track, then by all means, do it.  If not, watch it carefully while it scores before the race.  Look for smooth action and see how well it handles the turns, particularly on a half mile or five eighths mile track.

Finally, don’t ever bet on a race where you are comparing one shipper to another unless you get a very good price.  Talk about comparing apples and oranges!  A race with one shipper is tough enough but a race with two shippers who appear to be contenders is chaos.

The most consistent horse racing systems have to have the basics and a handicapper must understand the basics. I have been around horse racing for 50 years including as an owner. Without the basics the rest is not going to do any good. If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps harness races just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/harness_racing_system.html and get the truth.

Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. He comes from a horse race handicapping family and as he puts it, “Horse Racing is in my blood.” To see all Bill’s horse racing material go to http://williewins.homestead.com/handicappingstore.html , Bill’s handicapping store.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/horse-racing-articles/harness-racing-handicapping-systems-tips-using-speed-figures-or-times-for-shippers-1378197.html

Abbey storms to classy Trophy win October 26th, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

St Nicholas Abbey powers to victory in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster while Monet’s Garden takes the Old Roan Chase at Aintree.
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Abbey storms to classy Trophy win October 26th, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

St Nicholas Abbey powers to victory in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster while Monet’s Garden takes the Old Roan Chase at Aintree.
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Keeping Your Saddle In Good Condition October 25th, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

If you are an ardent horseback rider, and then you know that one of the most significant things that you need to do is keep the parts of a western saddle in good working order. Not concentrating to the details can be a matter of life or death, or at least a particularly bad injury. Horseback riders can tell you that there enough things to worry about that can spook your pony and can end up in you losing your seat.

With the news bringing you stories of folks that have had bad falls from riding horses, more folks are hearing about what can occur. Especially when a few of these stories have the names of famous folks attached to them. Thanks to the media, we all know that you can have a fall from a pony that lead to a devastating spine injury.

Source of this article: Keeping Your Saddle In Good Condition

We need to learn from this. It’s necessary to focus on details that can make a contribution in how your ride is going to be. Not taking care of your parts of a western saddle should not ever be one of them. It is reckless and absolutely avoidable. This does not mean you give the saddle a fast cursory peek and say it’s good. All straps and ties should be tested for wear. You should see if you can tear the leather. If you can, it has to get replaced before you employ it again.

You must keep all the parts of a western saddle clean. When you have finished riding, you must take some time to be sure you clean all dust, dust and moisture that may be on the saddle. Some of the saddle parts can become dry and fragile. This can take away from the integrity of the leather and it can wear out. Not accepting this responsibility can end up in you having an accident.

It only takes a little bit of your time, but it can save everyone a lifetime of regrets knowing that you might have prevented what has happened to you if something was to happen to you.

You can find more information about Western saddle at http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=2105894, where you can read about parts of Western saddle.

Andre writes articles on different fields of interest.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/horse-racing-articles/keeping-your-saddle-in-good-condition-1366119.html

Why Long Shots Continue to Surprise Bettors at the Horse Races October 24th, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

People have been betting on horse races for hundreds, if not thousands of years.  The art of handicapping horse races has developed over the years into a fine science and art and the advent of computers has improved it many times.  Yet, on any given day, at any given race track, horses continue to win races and to pay big prices.

No matter how much information is available to the betting public, they still sometimes fail to spot a horse that will win at long odds.  Some people say it is because of the very nature of horse racing and the natural world.  Horses are living creatures and therefore, unpredictable and subject to change.  While that may be true, it doesn’t account for the many longshots who show promise in one way or another, qualify for the conditions of a race, and then win it.

The real reason that longshots are found in the winners circle is the betting public.  While there are some astute handicappers who break down a race and methodically piece it together until they can assess a fair value and predict each runner’s chances of winning, they are in the minority.  There are many more people who use just one factor to determine who they will bet on.

While that one factor may vary from horse player to horse player, it is safe to assume that a portion of the win pool is determined by the morning line odds.  Some bettors look no farther than the morning line and will bet the morning line favorite in almost every race.  They often call themselves handicappers.  Therefore, as much as 20% of the money bet on the favorite may be based solely on the morning line.  I have no statistics and know of no studies that have been done on this subject, but based on my experience at the track, I’d say this is a fair guess.

Other punters simply bet the jockey or trainer they like.  They search the program, or simply watch the post parade and spot their favorite rider or conditioner and that is where the win money goes.  The point I am trying to make is that a lot of the money that goes into the win pool does so capriciously.  While the reasoning of the bettors may be sound enough, it isn’t researched enough.

A good handicapper will spot a few factors that don’t seem to make sense and will dig deeper.  He or she may notice that this particular horse did win at this level before, but is now a long shot. Digging deeper he or she may find that the horse had excuses in its last races or has just moved to a better trainer or one who specializes in horses of this type.

The point is, it takes time and effort to find good long shot bets, but they are out there.  If you know what to look for and are willing to do the research, you can be one of the few who cashes that big, heart pounding ticket.

Long shots are where the money is in horse racing. I have been around horse racing for 50 years including as an owner. Without the basics the rest is not going to do any good. If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/longshotrater.html and get the truth about finding good long shot bets.

Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. He comes from a horse race handicapping family and as he puts it, “Horse Racing is in my blood.” To see all Bill’s horse racing material go to http://williewins.homestead.com/handicappingstore.html , Bill’s handicapping store.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/horse-racing-articles/why-long-shots-continue-to-surprise-bettors-at-the-horse-races-1373010.html

Look Here moves into retirement October 24th, 2009 | Horse Racing | 3 Comments »

Look Here, the 2008 Oaks winner, is retired after a disappointing outing in Canada last weekend, her trainer Ralph Beckett announces.
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Look Here moves into retirement October 24th, 2009 | Horse Racing | 3 Comments »

Look Here, the 2008 Oaks winner, is retired after a disappointing outing in Canada last weekend, her trainer Ralph Beckett announces.
Read the rest of this entry »

Harness Racing Longshot Winners Often Have One Thing in Common October 24th, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

There is nothing quite like the thrill of cashing a winning ticket on a longshot at the harness races.  The reason is that they are so hard to come by, even though long shots do win every day and almost every card will have at least one race that produces one.

The problem is that a lot of harness races are won by favorites or low priced winners.  The reason is the consistency of the breed and the way harness races shape up.  This is especially true on half mile tracks and five eighths mile tracks where post position is so critical.  Just betting the long shots is financial suicide.  So what do you look for to find a good long shot bet?

As crazy as it may sound, inconsistency is a good place to start.  There are a lot of talented Standardbreds that win once in a while but often get beaten by inferior horses.  The reason may be a chronic physical problem like lameness, or a problem with their heads and desire.

Many good trainers and drivers will tell you they don’t know when a horse will give you a good race or throw in a listless effort.  It is very frustrating to know you have a horse with great potential that refuses to give his or her best most of the time.  It is also equally as frustrating to know that if your horse is healthy and feeling good, it can beat anything else in the race but to also know it isn’t at its best and will probably get beaten.

Sometimes, however, a trainer does know his horse is ready and has overcome a problem, at least enough to win a race or two.  Many times, you will see an inconsistent horse moving up in class off a dull effort.  When you see such a situation, the first step is to check out the trainer and to see if he or she is competent.  When a good trainer makes this move it often signals a big race for the horse.

It also usually means a big price.  However, when such a horse moves up and gets any action at all in the pools, you can bet that the trainer and the “in” crowd are onto the horse and expect a good race.  Keeping a list of trainers who make this move and knowing how to watch the pools to spot inside money will often help you to find a good long shot bet at the harness races.

The most consistent harness horse racing systems have to have the basics and a handicapper must understand the basics. I have been around horse racing for 50 years including as an owner. Without the basics the rest is not going to do any good. If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://williewins.homestead.com/harness_racing_system.html and get the truth.

Bill Peterson is a former horse race owner and professional handicapper. He comes from a horse race handicapping family and as he puts it, “Horse Racing is in my blood.” To see all Bill’s horse racing material go to http://williewins.homestead.com/handicappingstore.html , Bill’s handicapping store.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/horse-racing-articles/harness-racing-longshot-winners-often-have-one-thing-in-common-1373027.html

Keeping Your Saddle In Good Shape October 23rd, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

If you’re an enthusiastic horseback rider, then you know that one of the most important things you need to do is keep the parts of a western saddle in good working order. Not listening to the details can be a matter of life or death, or at least a very bad injury.

If you are fortunate, falling from your horse will only leave you with a few bumps and bruises.
With the news bringing you stories of folks that have had bad falls from riding horses, more and more folk are hearing about what can happen. We want to learn from this. It’s a necessity to concentrate on details that may make a difference in how your ride is going to be. Not looking after your parts of a western saddle should never be one of them.

It is reckless and absolutely avoidable. each time you go for a ride you must have a routine of inspecting your saddle parts. This doesn’t mean you give the saddle a fast cursory peek and say it’s good.

Source of this article: Keeping Your Saddle In Good Shape

All straps and ties should be tested for wear. If you can, it needs to be replaced before you use it again. Hardware should be in good condition and none of it should be missing. Stirrup hobbles can be easily lost.

When you have finished riding, you must take some time to be sure you clean all mud, dust and moisture that might be on the saddle. Not doing so can set you up for having issues later. This can take away from the integrity of the leather and it can wear out. Not accepting this responsibility can end up in you having an accident. This accident can be as small as having some bumps and bruises or it can be lethal.

It will only take a little bit of your time, but it can save everyone a lifetime of regrets knowing that you might have forestalled what’s happened to you if something was to happen to you.

You can find more information about Western saddle at http://www.partsofwesternsaddle.com, where you can read about parts of Western saddle.

Andre writes articles on different fields of interest.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/horse-racing-articles/keeping-your-saddle-in-good-shape-1366473.html

Size Counts When Finding The Right Saddle October 22nd, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

When you choose to have a saddle made, it can be a long process to be able to get the perfect saddle. The parts of western saddle have to be brought together to make a uniform piece that’s solid and extremely serviceable.

When making a saddle, the saddle maker will get with you and take many measurements. If the saddle tree is not right then not one of the rests of the saddle can fall into place either. If the gullet is too tiny, this can cause Problems for the horse. If the gullet is too wide then it’ll sit on the horse’s shoulders. This will make for a sad horse.

The measurements will be made to make sure the saddle will fit you comfortably and that it’ll fit your horse nicely. Yes, to some folk the pony is merely an animal, so why do they have to make certain the saddle fits it right? For one, it’s only tolerant to0 confirm that it is comfy. Second, if you have an uncomfortable, sad pony; then you are going to have a horse that’s going to be difficult to manage.

Source of this article: Size Counts When Finding The Right Saddle

The saddle desires to be measured so that you can easily get seated and when you get seated, you can reach the stirrups, if your feet dangle, then you’re not going to be cozy. This, in turn, can make the horse nervous. The saddle should not feel too large between the legs when straddled across it. If the saddle feels too wide, then your feet aren’t going to fall where they have to when you need to give the horse commands. It might also make it difficult for you to hold on.

For the pony, the saddle wants to have perfect measurements also. This can be uncomfortable for the pony. If the saddle is too large, then it moves around on the pony’s back. This can cause an accident.

Making sure that measurements are right is important to getting the ideal saddle. This may mean having to have measurements done on more than one occasion. It is worth it in the end.

You can find more information about Western saddle at http://www.partsofwesternsaddle.com, where you can read about parts of Western saddle.

Andre writes articles on different fields of interest.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/horse-racing-articles/size-counts-when-finding-the-right-saddle-1363795.html

O’Neill fears quiet jumps season October 22nd, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

Gloucestershire-based trainer Jonjo O’Neill says he has little hope of major success in the National Hunt season.
Read the rest of this entry »

O’Neill fears quiet jumps season October 22nd, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

Gloucestershire-based trainer Jonjo O’Neill says he has little hope of major success in the National Hunt season.
Read the rest of this entry »

Traditional vs. Modern - The Designs Of A Western Saddle October 21st, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

All of the straps are leather also. Particularly, when there are flamboyant designs worked into the leather. The leather had a burgundy tinge to it. All parts except for the saddle tree and some hardware are made with leather. ‘Till, rather recently that is. You find saddles now that have straps that are made out of synthetic materials.

Just because some of the parts of western saddle are made of artificial materials rather than leather, doesn’t mean that they don’t need to be checked. The synthetic material can become worn and tear also. No matter if you’re employing a saddle made with leather or synthetic materials, you must inspect the saddle. Before you go riding, inspection should join your routine. Other things you should do are keep it clean and well cared for. It may be a pain to be forced to check all the parts of the saddle. It’s a tedious job to say the least. This can jeopardize you or your pony. Equipment that is not maintained can break. This breakage can end up in an accident.

There are many folks who eschew away from the new manmade materials because they aren’t the normal leather of old. For them, it is just not right to use any kind of material that’s not leather.

Source of this article: Traditional vs. Modern - The Designs Of A Western Saddle

So long as the saddle is a respected part of your equipment and you treat it as such, it is irrelevant what material it is made out of. Can you think what the cowboys of the old west would think of the manmade materials used in saddles today? This was a point in time when everything was made by hand. Mass production using machines was unknown. The people who made saddles back then gained a rep by personal recommendation. If you did a good job and had good craftsmanship, then people would tell folks about you.

Similarly, if you probably did a shitty job, then you would have a reputation also. You simply wouldn’t have a good one. Not as personal, but can be as effective just the same.

You can find more information about Western saddles at http://www.partsofawesternsaddle.com, where you can read about parts of a Western saddle.

Andre writes articles on different fields of interest.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/horse-racing-articles/traditional-vs-modern-the-designs-of-a-western-saddle-1361393.html

Horse Racing Picks: Howard Johnson Hopes For Tidal Revival October 20th, 2009 | Horse Racing | No Comments »

In latest horse racing picks, Howard Johnson hopes a breathing operation can help Tidal Bay return to his best at Aintree on Saturday.

His stable star runs in the tote ten to follow Old Roan Chase and the trainer is expecting a big run.

“We are looking forward to getting Tidal Bay back on the racecourse. We had him hobdayed through the summer and we are hoping that has tidied him up. I would say at the minute that he will probably be our standard bearer this year,” said Johnson with sports betting community.

“He jumped a few fences indoors on Monday morning and looked good. He’ll school outdoors if it keeps drizzling like it is now and he will have a piece of work with Denis O’Regan up, probably on Tuesday. If I’m happy and the ground is alright, we’ll go to Aintree.

“He is training well and we’ll weigh him on Wednesday. He actually looks like he’s carrying a lot more condition this year, which is good because he always looks Gorky.”

Johnson is pleased with the form of his stable at present, which boasts a 33% strike rate this month, with nine wins from 27 runners.

He said: “The horses in horse racing betting generally are alright, I’m happy enough with them, it’s just that we haven’t been able to get on the grass yet. The ground has been too firm and the racecourses don’t help us trainers in the north east because they won’t let us work our horses on the tracks.”

Hi

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/horse-racing-articles/horse-racing-picks-howard-johnson-hopes-for-tidal-revival-1359170.html

Why are horses allowed to use steroids and other performance enhancing drugs in horse racing? October 20th, 2009 | Horse Racing | 11 Comments »

Did you know there is absolutely NO drug testing for steroids in horse racing? I know many trainers and they see the performance enhancing drugs getting way out of hand.
…..And you thought baseball had major drug problems??

After every race, the winning horse is taken back to the testing barn for a blood and urine sample that they test to ensure that the horse was not on any illegal drugs.

And if trainers are caught with any illegal drugs, they get suspended for a very long time and it doesn’t matter if they say that they didn’t know the drug was there and they didn’t put it there. Steve Asmussen and Patrick Biancone were both suspended recently for having drugs that they aren’t allowed to give the horses.

So the industry is regulating drugs and punishing those who break the rules.

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