HORSE RACING THREAD

[DZ19]

It was a great race. I was hoping Zetterholm would get up for 3rd. Steady improvement every race. Put him in exacta and tri at Belmont if he runs..

[fthack]

Does anybody else besides me think that the 2012 Preakness Stakes stunk on ice?

Why didn't Bode go out and set insane fractions like he did in the Kentucky Derby and run them off their feet in a shorter race? Remember Shackleford just last year? A far lesser mammal compared to Bodemeister. You would have thought that Baffert would have employed the same tactic, but strangly did nothing of the sort.

Where was the whip at the top of the stretch, Mike Smith? You give Bode several smart whacks in the Derby when you were five lengths in front! Here, when you were being pressed, nothing.

To me, this race looked like something you would see at Penn National back in the day. When the races were not run, they were scripted. I have witnessed WWE matches more genuine. I was waiting for Mike Battaglia to hit Bob Neumeier with a metal folding chair. I would hate to think that horse racing has de-evolved from The Sport of Kings to bad Reality TV.

And WTF was with Bob Baffert's reaction just after the wire? The footage is available on YouTube. It looks like he lost a $10,000 maiden claimer at Hollywood Park, not the second jewel of the triple crown. I was expecting another heart attack not complete indifference. Oh, BREAKING NEWS: Bode is not running in the Belmont. What a shock. Expect other quality horses to withdraw as well. I expect Union Rags will develop a case of the Siberian Itch and will have to scratch (Get it?). Remember in 2008 when the Belmont had Big Brown in against a bunch of trotters and went "no mas" in the backstretch. I was surprised that Tom Durkin did not jump out of the announcers booth and carry him across the finish line to victory. Everyone (including me) wanted it so badly. They had it all set up for a big party, and all we got in the end was a "Big Brown in the Punch Bowl". I had substantial Lettuce on him that day, so I am allowed that bad pun. Luckily, I did not have a penny on Bodemeister, which makes these charges far more genuine.

But wait, we have a chance to see history, right? Horse racing couldn't be happier. However, they are delusional in their thinking that a triple crown winner will be good for the sport and people will come back to the track. Hardly. The rabble will care (barely) for a couple of hours and then watch "Dancing With The Stars" and forget all about it. They will continue to stay away in droves.

The only people IHN's win is good for is NBC Sports, The Belmont Stakes, its sponsors and Doug O'Neill. Hey Doug, this sure beats sending out lame horses to run in $2500 claimers at Los Al, doesn't it. And BTW, good luck with that upcoming drug suspension.

Of course all of the above is fiction, just a senseless rant ... or is it?

[BklynGrinder]

Originally Posted by fthack

Does anybody else besides me think that the 2012 Preakness Stakes stunk on ice?

Why didn't Bode go out and set insane fractions like he did in the Kentucky Derby and run them off their feet in a shorter race? Remember Shackleford just last year? A far lesser mammal compared to Bodemeister. You would have thought that Baffert would have employed the same tactic, but strangly did nothing of the sort.

Where was the whip at the top of the stretch, Mike Smith? You give Bode several smart whacks in the Derby when you were five lengths in front! Here, when you were being pressed, nothing.

To me, this race looked like something you would see at Penn National back in the day. When the races were not run, they were scripted. I have witnessed WWE matches more genuine. I was waiting for Mike Battaglia to hit Bob Neumeier with a metal folding chair. I would hate to think that horse racing has de-evolved from The Sport of Kings to bad Reality TV.

And WTF was with Bob Baffert's reaction just after the wire? The footage is available on YouTube. It looks like he lost a $10,000 maiden claimer at Hollywood Park, not the second jewel of the triple crown. I was expecting another heart attack not complete indifference. Oh, BREAKING NEWS: Bode is not running in the Belmont. What a shock. Expect other quality horses to withdraw as well. I expect Union Rags will develop a case of the Siberian Itch and will have to scratch (Get it?). Remember in 2008 when the Belmont had Big Brown in against a bunch of trotters and went "no mas" in the backstretch. I was surprised that Tom Durkin did not jump out of the announcers booth and carry him across the finish line to victory. Everyone (including me) wanted it so badly. They had it all set up for a big party, and all we got in the end was a "Big Brown in the Punch Bowl". I had substantial Lettuce on him that day, so I am allowed that bad pun. Luckily, I did not have a penny on Bodemeister, which makes these charges far more genuine.

But wait, we have a chance to see history, right? Horse racing couldn't be happier. However, they are delusional in their thinking that a triple crown winner will be good for the sport and people will come back to the track. Hardly. The rabble will care (barely) for a couple of hours and then watch "Dancing With The Stars" and forget all about it. They will continue to stay away in droves.

The only people IHN's win is good for is NBC Sports, The Belmont Stakes, its sponsors and Doug O'Neill. Hey Doug, this sure beats sending out lame horses to run in $2500 claimers at Los Al, doesn't it. And BTW, good luck with that upcoming drug suspension.

Of course all of the above is fiction, just a senseless rant ... or is it?

please post more

[blackcollar]

hey guys, can you recommend any books to kick start my modern day handicapping career?? i'm pretty new to horse racing, and so far i like it a lot; however, i'd like to book more wins than losses next time i go to the track.

help?

[AlwaysTwinNSpired]

BG, i dont even know where to start. All i can say is IHA is a better animal than bode. Mike did exactly what a Hall of Famer is supost to do. Nurse ur lead, repel the first bid & create separation, which he did by 3 lengths & then ride for ur life. Bode jus wasnt good enough. Hes a brilliant 1 dimensional horse , doug jus happens to have a once in a lifetime horse. Jus set back & enjoy imo.

[TripleH68]

...Belmont winner...

“I think he’s going to run a big race,” Romans said.

Would he be sorry if his chestnut colt derailed the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978?

“Not at all,” Romans said. “To go down in history as a super horse, you have to beat all challengers.”

Toyota Blue Grass winner Dullahan, most recently third in the Kentucky Derby, continued his preparations for the Belmont Stakes with a five-furlong breeze in 1:00 1/5 on the fast main track at Churchill Downs May 19 for trainer Dale Romans.

Working on his own after the renovation break under Faustino Aguilar, Dullahan recorded fractions of :12, :23 4/5, :35 4/5, :47 4/5. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:13 4/5 and seven furlongs in 1:29 4/5.

His five-furlong time, his first published work since the Derby, was the second fastest of 26 at the distance. This year's Belmont Stakes is June 9.

Assistant trainer Baldemar Bahena oversaw the workout for Romans, who is in Baltimore to saddle Cozzetti for the 137th Preakness.

"He came out of the Derby very well and today's work was good," Bahena said. "He will work again here next Saturday and then we will ship him to Belmont. He'll have his final workout for the race up there."

[Jokerz2424]

Originally Posted by blackcollar

hey guys, can you recommend any books to kick start my modern day handicapping career?? i'm pretty new to horse racing, and so far i like it a lot; however, i'd like to book more wins than losses next time i go to the track.

help?

I enjoyed this book: Exotic Betting: How to Make the Multihorse, Multirace Bets that Win Racing's Biggest Payoffs by Steven Crist.

It also explains the tax implications and everything you don't think about.

[corndogg99]

If any of you are playing hollywood today, I've got a horse that is faaaaar from a lock, but is a good play at 10-1 imo.

Race 3, #3 Warrens Vendalucy. This is a 1 mile turf banger for 40k, wtih only 6 ponies. Two horses, the 1 and the 5 are 8/5 and 9/5, and honestly, one of them will probably win. But the 3 has some things to like about her.

Number one is the fact that she has raced one time on turf, and liked it. She went straight for the lead in the second start of her career, dueled head and head all the way around the track to the 2nd turn, got tired late and lost.

She was claimed out of her last start, where she bobbled start and never got into the race. It says weakened in the program, what really happened is the jock knew she had no chance after the break and never really pushed her.

After the claim, she has had two works. Both designed to put speed into her. 3 furlongs at :36, and then a bullet of 53 this past Monday at 4f in :46. He is going to send her straight to the front again, and I don't believe anyone is going to push her in this race. Both of the main contenders like to sit just behind and wait for the pace to come back to them. If she can get loose and comfortable, she might have enough to hold them off.

And then the price. At 10-1 ML, I like her. If she floats up from there because of all the action the 1 and 5 take, I love her.

Like I said, this is far from a lock, but I am keying her into the pick5, pick 3s, doubles on both sides, and of course putting win money on her. I'm also intending to put her on top of the 4 in the exacta, and try to blow something up.

Good luck to anyone playing today, hope you all have a great holiday.

[DZ19]

I just have a quick question. I live in Colorado and the local track is Arapahoe Park. I take the family every Sunday during racing season. My kids really look forward to the experience every week. I looked at the value of the purses for yesterdays races-
$80,800 total. The total handle for the track including OTB was $164,022. How is the track able to operate losing so much money? It will not survive unless they start marketing better. Part of the problem is the location (east of town, one way to get there from the city). I have suggested to them in the past to install lights and run at night....They would pick up more OTB..

[corndogg99]

Man been quiet in here lately.

DZ, I would try to answer your question, but I have no idea on the financials there at that park.

Playing hollywood again today, I like wild mia #3 in race 9, and another longer shot #4 in race 10. I'm playing both, along with a few others in the late pick4, and DD.

If anyone else is playing today I'll post a few plays, otherwise I guess I won't worry about checking it. Good luck to everyone either way.

[pdiggz]

DZ19 - i think a large percentage of purse money comes from advertising/sponsers.

[illhaveanother]

any thoughts on the huge carryover Super High Five at Arlington today?

$487,066 carryover

[blackcollar]

Any thoughts on pic 4 strategies at Churchill?

[Ghostzapper]

Originally Posted by blackcollar

Any thoughts on pic 4 strategies at Churchill?

Daily racing form has an iPhone app called Ticketmaker that will let you plug in ABCX horses and craft tickets to match your budget. Also check out the book Exotic Betting that was mentioned earlier in the thread.

[blackcollar]

Will do, and i'm reading a few books atm, exotic betting is next in the list. I'll have more structured questions within the next few days rather than the vague one above. Thanks for the reply