Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Horse Racing Calendar - Upcoming Stakes Races

This is the latest upcoming stakes races on the horse racing calendar:

UPCOMING STAKES
Saturday, March 15

TAMPA BAY DERBY (G3), Tampa Bay Downs, $300,000, 3yo, 1 1/16m.
REBEL S. (G2), Oaklawn Park, $300,000, 3yo, 1 1/16m.
SAN FELIPE S. (G2), Santa Anita, $200,000, 3yo, 1 1/16m.
FLORIDA OAKS (G3), Tampa Bay Downs, $175,000, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m.
HILLSBOROUGH S. (G3), Tampa Bay Downs, $175,000, 4&up, f&m, 1 1/8mT.
SKIP AWAY H. (G3), Gulfstream Park, $150,000, 4&up, 1 1/8m.
CICADA S. (G3), Aqueduct, $100,000, 3yo, f, 6f.
BAY MEADOWS SPRINT (G3), Bay Meadows, $100,000, 4&up, 6f.
Pasadena S., Santa Anita, $75,000, 3yo, 1mT.
Allen Lacombe Memorial H., Fair Grounds, $60,000, 4&up, 1mT.
Conniver S. (r), Laurel Park, $60,000, 3&up, f&m, 7f.
Mission S. (r), Sam Houston, $50,000, 4&up, f&m, 7f.
Bill Thomas Memorial H., Sunland Park, $50,000, 3&up, 6 1/2f.
Turf Dash S., Tampa Bay Downs, $50,000, 3&up, 5fT.
Tejano Run S., Turfway Park, $50,000, 4&up, 1 1/8m.

Sunday, March 16

MAC DIARMIDA H. (G2), Gulfstream Park, $150,000, 4&up, 1 3/8mT.
HONEYBEE S. (G3), Oaklawn Park, $100,000, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m.
WinStar Derby, Sunland Park, $600,000, 3yo, 1 1/8m.
Sunland Park Oaks, Sunland Park, $200,000, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m.
Harry W. Henson H., Sunland Park, $150,000, 3&up, f&m, 1m.
Crystal Water H. (r), Santa Anita, $100,000, 4&up, 1mT.
New Mexico Breeders' Derby (r), Sunland Park, $100,000, 3yo, 1m.

Monday, March 17

Irish O'Brien S. (r), Santa Anita, $125,000, 4&up, f&m, 6 1/2fT.
St. Patrick's Day H., Turfway Park, $50,000, 4&up, 6f.

Tuesday, March 18

Bensalem S., Philadelphia Park, $75,000, 4&up, 6 1/2f.

Check back often to see the latest upcoming races on the horse racing calendar.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

The Many Online Horse Racing Games

If you go to Google and do a search for online horse racing games, you will find a bunch. There are so many, in fact, that you be busy for a long time.

You will find stable owner simulation games like Stableking and Digiturf. And there are the fun racing contests like Horse Hats Derby. This is where you try to win ten races in a row to enter their Hall of Fame. This is a quick test of skill that is quite entertaining.

The simulation games are quite involved and will entertain you for days, months and even years. Yes, the simulations are ongoing. Games like Stableking are popular world wide. In fact, you are racing against the world.

There is so much to do in these games. You have to get horses for your stable, train them, find a jockey for them, and race them. This can become very tedious. After you do all that, you might have some time on your hands. This is when you could take a break and go on over to the Horse Hat Derby to test your racing skills. Maybe this time you will make the Hall of Fame.

If you're a fan of horse racing, you really should check out the wide variety of these horse racing games. With so many of these different types of online horse racing games, there is always something else to do that's new and different. You could be the next top earning stable.

About Those Free Horse Racing Selections

Those free horse racing selections that you can find in the newspaper or online may have some validity. They have their pros and cons. They may be your best selections if you haven't taken the time on your own to handicap the races. After all, they are free and in most cases, have at least some research behind them.

I would not recommend the purchase of selections mainly because there may be just as much research behind them as those which are free. The free selections will probably do just as well.

One of the negatives about these picks are the fact that they are widely available and therefore tend to drive the odds down. Many people do use these picks and this could mean not as big a payoff if they should come in.

Your best bet is to do your own handicapping or to use a tested paid handicapping system. There are some good paid systems that offer money back guarantees. You can test these on paper first and get your money back if they don't pan out.

There are, however, several websites that provide free selections for just about every track that's racing. These selection are usually made by experts in the field so they can be trusted for the most part. So you may feel confident in using these picks. For those who don't do their own handicapping and are just out for a good time at the track, they are a good time saver.

Secretariat at the Preakness 1973

The Horse Racing Tracks Of The Triple Crown

The horse racing tracks which comprise the Triple Crown of horse racing are Churchill Downs, Pimlico Race Course and Belmont Park. The high point of the horse racing season culminates at these three tracks each year although in recent years the Breeder's Cup has challenged as the predictor of the three-year-old champion. The Breeder's Cup is held at a different track each year.

The Kentucky Derby held at Churchill Downs in Kentucky, could be the most challenging of the three. This is not because of the distance, which is one and a quarter miles, but because of the amount of competition. Usually this race draws around 20 entries each year and with that many entries, just about anything can happen and usually does. Very often in this race the favorite does not win. This is probably because of the fast pace which is almost in evidently set.

The second leg is The Preakness held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. This is the shortest of the three and usually with a lot less competition. Although it is the shortest of the three, it is still a long race at 1 3/16 mile. This can be a very interesting race because it always attracts the Derby winner along some of the horses that ran in the Derby and some that didn't run in the Derby. The winner gets a horseshoe of black-eyed susans placed around the neck.

The Belmont Stakes is held at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY and is the longest of the three at a mile and a half. Because of the distance it is called the "Test of the Champion". And it is a true test indeed as most of the horses are not accustomed to such a long distance. Many have won the first two legs only to come up short in this one. The last time a Triple Crown winner was crowned was all the way back to 1978 and was won by Affirmed.

These are horse racing tracks of the Triple Crown. They are always exciting and a difficult challenge for handicappers.

How To Choose A Good Horse Racing System

You need know how to choose a good horse racing system. There are almost as many systems out there as horse racing punters at the track. Everyone seems to have their own system. Of course, about 95% of them will lose money over the long run.

So what do need to know in order to choose a profitable system? The first thing you should know is that you will most likely have to make a purchase in order to obtain a good system. This is mainly due to the fact that when a good system is discovered, it then becomes a well guarded secret. The system your friend is using may be working today, but not tomorrow.

There are ways that you can test certain systems first without risking much of anything. Some of the best systems that are making profits will offer a money back guarantee. This a good sign of confidence on their part that they are offering a system of value. This will also afford you the opportunity to test the system on paper first so that just in case it doesn't work, you can get your money back without any of the financial risk.

You will also want to find a system that is easy to use. Systems can become very complicated due to the many factors involved. Try to find a system can be simply implemented.

Also, remember that a good striking percentage doesn't always mean it's a good system. Many good systems have lower striking percentages. You are mainly looking for profit. If you are getting good profit, what more could you ask in a system.

Now you should be very well equipped so that you can choose the right horse racing system. So, good luck and may you prosper by this advice!

Secretariat at the Belmont 1973

Horse Racing Software Can Be Your Best Friend

Yes, it's true that horse racing software can be your best friend. If used correctly, this software can accurately predict the outcome of a race.

One of the best uses for this type of software is in the calculating of speed and pace which tend to cause some problems in the manual calculating process. These calculations are time consuming and errors can be made. With this type of software, you can eliminate the headaches and the errors.

You can also use daily updates online to keep your files up to date. This keeps you up to date on the stats for any horse.

There are also racing systems that use their own software and these can be quite useful if your system is yielding profits. Many of these systems do not. Sometimes you may find that you have purchased software that is a total scam. That is why you should only purchase systems that offer a money back guarantee just in case they prove to be unprofitable.

If your system is making a profit, this kind of software can be quite valuable and save you a lot of time. Make sure you are using your software as it is outlined in your system. Many times it is the operator and not the software that can cause a system to fail. You just need to pay attention to detail and in most cases, your software will begin to work as intended.

For the most part, horse racing software is a good thing to have and can save you time and make you big profits.

Thoroughbred Horse Racing Basics

For the beginner, thoroughbred horse racing can be quite confusing at first. First, you must learn about the different types of races in a typical race meeting.

The types are listed as follows: Maiden, Claiming, Allowance, Handicap and Stakes. These categories are designed to make the races more evenly competitive.

Maiden

Maiden races are for horses who have never won and can be the most difficult to handicap due to their short race histories. These horses are generally very young and erratic in these races. Many handicappers go to the family tree method to try and choose a winner here.

Claiming

Claiming races are the most common and horses will compete at different claiming amounts depending on their class. These horses may be claimed before the beginning of these races.

Allowance

Allowance races are for horses which race infrequently and cannot be claimed.

Handicap

The handicap races are usually high class races where horses of varying ages compete against each other and are given weight handicaps depending on the age of the horse. The older stronger horses are given the heavier weights to make this a more even match.

Stakes

Stakes races are for the highest class of horses and have very high purses. These are annual races such as the Kentucky Derby, Preakness or Belmont Stakes.

Each of the above mentioned types of races can be run at different distances. A race run at 7 furlongs or less is commonly known as a sprint. Races of a mile or more are known as routes.

By learning the types of races, you can see how they will group horses in a race in order to make the races more even. This should give you a feel for some of the thoroughbred horse racing basics that can help you become a better handicapper.

Secretariat at the Kentucky Derby 1973

The Joy Of Live Horse Racing

There is nothing quite like attending live horse racing. I believe that most people go to the track in the hopes of hitting many winners and padding their pockets without ever stopping to actually enjoy the sport of horse racing.

For many, it seems, do not understand the variables that come into play during a race. After a night of pre-raceday handicapping, it is with great anticipation that you get to see these variables come into play during the race. Of course, just before each race there are things you may observe about your possible selections that will solidify your belief in them, or not.

This is the fun of it. And that is to see if what you believe about a race really does come to fruition. There is nothing like live horse racing. When you watch the winning horse cross the finish line, you are not merely watching a winning horse but, a winning team; which includes the winning owner, trainer, jockey and of course, the horse. It's so nice when a plan comes together.

Yes, each race offers an athletic competition with its own unique set of questions to be answered. Sometimes it can be predictable, but at other times can offer a few surprises. This is what makes live horse racing such a great sport.

So the the next time you attend a live horse racing meeting, do your homework the night before and come to the track not just with the dream of greater riches but also, the thrill of some great competition race after race.

Stableking - A Free Horse Racing Game

Stableking is a free horse racing game that will simulate the experience of owning your own stable. You can buy and sell horses, train your horses, enter your horses in live online races for purses, bet on these races to gain more money for your stable and more. It really gives you a whole lot of realistic options and detail.

You virtually will do everything that a real stable owner will do. The best thing about this game is that it is an online game that is free. Elaborate online games like this are very rarely free.

The first thing you will do as the owner of your stable is create or buy horses for it. You get to create three free horses. After that you must buy on the horse market or breed them yourself.

After you get some horses, you will want to set up their training and allocate a jockey for each of them. Then you will be able to enter them in novice or maiden races to start. It probably will take a while to win your first race, unless you get lucky. But as your horses get older, they will become stronger and should then get their first win and move on.

After a while, their training will change. You will need to consult your trainer regularly to see what to do.

I really like this game because it's about as close as you can get to what a real stable owner would experience. So, you need to go on over to Stableking.com and see this free horse racing game for yourself. Wouldn't you be curious to know what kind of owner you would be?

To Barbaro

Horse Racing Systems Over The Years

There have been not just a few horse racing systems over the years. And punters have used almost every kind of angle imaginable to make their selections pay off.

Some of the factors involved in these systems include Owners,Trainers, Jockeys, family tree, speed, pace, class, condition, form, post position, workouts, weight, age, equipment changes, distances, sudden odds changes, coat appearance, behavior, track condition, etc. This is just to name a few. With all of these factors and many sysmore, some of these systems can become quite complicated and not real easy to use. Actually, about 95% of these systems just plain don't work.

Many of these systems would rely on you being at the track for every program. In the past this has been a real problem, but with the advent of the World Wide Web, this could now be feasible.

It can be quite easy to test some of these paid systems when they offer a money back guarantee. Then when you receive your system, you can test it on paper first. If the test fails, you can get your money back and haven't risked a dime.

Some of these systems have been researched using mounds of numerical data gathered through the years. A lot of this research has resulted in some remarkable breakthroughs which have yielded good profits. But, like I have mentioned before, you have no way of knowing if a system will work unless you test it yourself.

Just remember that making a profit over the long run is what is important. Good luck in your search for the most profitable horse racing systems.

Ruffian (The Great Match)

Horse Racing Handicapping - Making A Profit At The Track

Is your horse racing handicapping system making you a profit? When you go to the track, it is obvious that making a profit is more fun than not. So you need a strategy in order to make a profit every time. Losing at the track is no fun.

One way to achieve this is to increase your strike rate. It is possible to increase your strike rate using solid handicapping techniques based on proven statistical evidence. For instance, you could use statistics about the favorites in a race. A favorite will win about 40% of the time and he will place about 60 to 70% of the time. Using this stat combined with others can increase your strike rate.

Also, the favorite based on the odds of a race is what the general public sees as the favorite. If your system is picking the favorite more than the general public, your favorite might be considered a more reliable favorite. The odds don't always give us a true representation of a particular race.

Some of the criteria used includes a horse's form. This would be indicated by his last 3 races. This information can be obtained online, at the newsstand or at the track. Also available are the jockey and trainer stats.

It is important to note that how a horse is trained may indicate if a horse is being conditioned for an upcoming race or going for the win now. This can be an important piece of knowledge.

There is software available to increase your strike rate, but not every race will offer you value due to low odds. So, after you increase your strike rate, you need to look for these value races.

It is possible to make a good profit at the track and thus be having more fun. Once you find the right strategy, horse racing handicapping can be your best friend. So go for it!

Horse Racing Gifts

There are many options for those looking for horse racing gifts for your racing enthusiast. There are horse racing books, art, ornaments, video games, t-shirts, murals, glassware and jewelry.

As far as books go, Amazon.com has you covered. There are a wide variety of horse racing books to be had. There's even one of those horse racing books for dummies. And it's pretty obvious, the place to go for books is Amazon.

Video games are always popular and I've heard some good reviews on these. There are many places to go online for these.

The DerbyMuseum.org gift shop will carry some cool Kentucky Derby gifts. They have Christmas ornaments, Derby t-shirts and those mint julep glasses.

Yes, buying those horse racing gifts online should be no problem if you know where to go.

How To Arrive At Your Best Horse Racing Picks

Is there a magic formula for making your best horse racing picks? This is the question we will begin to tackle. Some handicappers use a very strict formula for choosing their horses. There are others, however, that will take each race as its own special case. After all, there are so many factors that can affect the outcome of a race.

Speed has to be a major consideration. This can refer to overall speed or the speed which is broken down into fractions most would call pace. A horse with good overall speed and/or pace has to be considered a possibility.

Also, the condition and class of a horse entering today's race will also be looked at closely. How did the horse finish in his last race? Is the competition of his last race comparable to today's race? Or maybe he will face some stiffer competition today. Has the horse had some good workouts lately? You might want to actually observe the appearance of the horses before the race. You can tell many things about the horses that are racing just by observing and noting these things. Things like a calm or nervous behavior, the appearance of his coat, either shiny or dull, should be noted. Also, take note of any extra equipment like blinkers or ankle wraps, etc.

The jockey has to be another major factor. Be sure to check the jockey standings to see who the top jockeys are. And then check the horses they will be riding in the race. Then, for those horses they are riding, check the past race jockeys for that horse. This could be eye-opening. There could be jockey switching.

Other factors to consider will be the distance of today's race compared to his past race distances. Sometimes horses are entered in races more for conditioning for a future race than for winning the present race. This could be valuable information. Also of value is the tote board action, especially in the last couple of minutes before post time. Sometimes large amounts are dropped on a horse in the closing minutes. Many times these horses have won. Inside information does happen.

There really are so many factors to watch before a race. I find it quite helpful to bring a friend along to help evaluate a race and to watch for things that you might miss. Just having someone to discuss the pros and cons will lead you to a well thought out conclusion. I have won several races in a row using this strategy.

Of special interest is the horse who had trouble the last time out. Many times these horses bounce back and go on to win their next race. Don't count these horses out. They usually have good payouts.

One last thing to note is track condition. Not just today's track, but also the condition of a horses past races. This could explain the results of a previous bad outing. Also, remember, a muddy track is much different than a sloppy track. Fast-paced horses could be slowed by a muddy track. But on a sloppy track, the fast-paced horses could break to the front and stay there because he isn't getting mud in the face like those behind him.

This should give you a good overview of the many factors that will affect the outcome a a horse race. It is not easy to handicap a race, but don't let the losses get you down. Use the losses to your advantage. Most of the time you will know why you lost when you go back over your notes. This could help you in the next race. Now go have some fun at the track and may your horse racing picks yield big profits.

Making Smart Horse Racing Bets

Making profits for your horse racing bets is not an easy thing to do. Only a small percentage of punters will profit from their bets consistently. This is because many are misled by systems that seem to be working, but are really just scams.

You can improve your chances though, if you know where to look. One good way is to do some study on your own and to come up with your own method. I have tried this and have spent many hours learning how to handicap on my own with some moderate success. This has taught me a lot and I have had enjoyable days at the track. In the long run, however, I may have barely broke even.

There are many paid systems that do work very well. You can easily find these systems online with little effort. The question is this. How do you know the system really works or is just another elaborate scam?

I think the best way to do this is to find systems that offer you a money back guarantee. This is a good clue that shows confidence in their system. At the same time you can paper test these to see if they will work or not. If not, just ask for your money back and you risk nothing.

Eventually you should arrive at a system that will consistently build your profits. The good ones are out there. You just need to keep trying and testing. Your winnings should increase when you start making smart horse racing bets.

A Good Source Of Horse Racing News

If want to keep up with all the latest horse racing news, a good place to check are the blogs. Blogs can be very helpful to the horse player.They contain all kinds of useful information. And the popularity of horse racing is worldwide.

Some of the extremely useful information found in a blog include the systems used to pick horses. You can search the blogs for systems that you can test. There may also be some informative videos that can give instruction on the basics of a system. So if you are looking for that highly profitable system, you just might find it here.

On the horse racing blogs you can also find highly valuable tips on handicapping the horses. These usually offer quite useful approaches for picking winners. These tips and ideas are taken from personal experience to select or eliminate an entry. This is highly valuable. On occasion you will actually find a handicapper's picks on a blog.

You can also make comments on these blogs and are able to meet with other horse racing enthusiasts. This can be quite entertaining and a valuable exchange of ideas can be had. Beginners and pros can interact and share their thoughts and ideas all in one place. Blogs are great for this kind of interaction.

So if you want a place to go for some recent horse racing news, exchange ideas, look up the latest systems and race tips or just about anything else, just start surfing the blogs today.

2007 Kentucky Derby - Street Sense

Online Horse Racing - The Next Best Thing To Being There

There is nothing like watching a live horse race, however, online horse racing seems to be the next best thing, maybe better.

Just about anything you can do at the track, you can do online. You can observe your horse on video. You can place your wager without going to the betting window. You can watch the race itself and then watch it again. You will get the results and get paid when you win.

And then consider the person who cannot make it to the track. No problem. Just go to your computer and you don't have to miss a race program. How simple is that!

And then, besides that, there is all the help you can get online. Most websites offer various forms of handicapping help. And you can even get the race day program complete with any scratches or any other changes that may occur before the race, not to mention being able to get your racing form, computer selections or expert selections online.

What could be easier than placing your bets with a click of the mouse. Hardly a chance of a mistake can be made this way.

Yes, attending a live horse racing track has its good points and can be a nice way to spend your day or night, but nothing can beat the convenience and betting experience of online horse racing. So do yourself a favor and beat the traffic and the parking and just go online horse racing.

Are Horse Racing Betting Guides Worth It?

There are many horse racing betting guides out there that will teach you how to bet on the races and make a profit from it. I know from experience that 95% of these guides do not work. These guides will cost you money, so how do you know if you are getting the best guide for your money?

You need to know for sure that profits can be made with the guide. One way to do this is by checking to see if there is a guarantee attached to the guide. A money back guarantee will insure against risking your hard-earned money on a bad guide. Do not purchase a guide without this guarantee.

Once you receive your guide and have your guarantee, you can then test it without putting up any money. You test it on paper first. Or if you want, you can set aside a small amount to test it with. If it passes the test, you can move on to the next phase.

You can be pretty sure at this point that your guide provides you with good selection criteria. You will then have to determine if it includes a good staking plan for making profits. A guide does not necessarily have to have a good strike rate to make it profitable. It should also be crystal clear and not overly complicated.

There are not a whole lot of good guides out there, so when you find one, you can rest easy knowing that you have found the right horse racing betting guide without a whole lot of risk involved.

Let's Do Some Virtual Horse Racing

What is virtual horse racing you may be asking? Have you ever dreamed of owning the winning horse at the Kentucky Derby? Well, here's your chance to own your own stable of horses that you can train and race virtually online.

The game is called Stableking and it's free online at Stableking.com . Stable owners from all around the globe will be competing with you to be the top earning stable in the world.

Well OK, maybe your not really into that. Maybe you just want to raise a few horses and race them every once in a while. You can do that too. It's your choice. You can even gamble at the track if you want and raise money for your stable. There are any number of variations you can do in this simulation.

So, how do you get horses for your stable? First, you are only allowed 50 horses per stable. This levels the field by keeping someone from dominating in numbers. Your first 3 horses are free. After that, it will cost you in virtual money. You can also breed more horses for your stable or make a purchase from the horse market. There are some good deals there.

As your stable grows, you will start to get earnings from the horses you race. After 90 days your horses retire and they remain so many days after for breeding and the cycle goes on. Of course, that part of it is not real time, but it does keep the game going at a fast pace.

There is so much more to this virtual horse racing game, but you should give it a try for yourself.

Free Horse Racing Tips Are Good For Beginners

You should never have to pay for horse racing tips. Free horse racing tips are readily available online and will offer more than ample advice for selecting a winner.

Most of the free horse racing tips that you can get online will offer you some good, sound advice for beginners to pay attention to. And also, in searching for these tips, be sure to search the blogs. Many blogs are dedicated to the subject of horse racing and you will find loads of good tips there.

If you are new to horse racing, it is always a good idea to get tips from someone whose been there. Probably one of the best tips for a beginner would be to check the jockey and trainer stats to see who the best ones are so that you can see who's training who and who the best jockeys are riding. This is critical information.

Another good tip would be to get yourself a racing form at your local newsstand or at the track and start learning how to read a past performance on a horse. Knowing how to read these past performances will help you to know some important information like if your horse won in his last race and how long ago was this and what was the distance.

Just these free horse racing tips that I have shared here are enough to get a beginner started. Buying racing tips is a waste of money. Buying a racing system might be beneficial, but make sure you can test it without risk.

What Can We Learn From Horse Racing Odds

Is there anything we can learn from horse racing odds? Basically, there are two sources of these odds. That would be the morning line set by the track secretary and the ever-changing real-time odds leading up to the start of a race.

Many times the morning line is relatively close to the race time odds. But, sometimes factors in the past performance will cause the race time odds to be higher or lower than the morning line and we have to ask ourselves why.

Are these differences justified? Is there something the general betting public is seeing that the track secretary didn't see? I find that most of the time the general public has uncovered something that the track secretary has ignored and we should take notice.

I have also noticed that whenever half the entries or more are 5 to 1 or less, upsets occur. These are races that I like to skip. Sometimes anything can happen in these races.

I have also noted that sometimes the odds on a horse will suddenly drop in the last 3 minutes before post time. I immediately think that someone knows some inside information. After all, owners and trainers and anyone else that is close to these horses do make wagers on their own. This observance alone will often cause me to go with that horse and many times I am correct. This is something to think about.

Yes, indeed, I believe there is something to be learned from horse racing odds. Just maybe this will cause you to take a little more notice of the odds.