Mar 17
2014
Michelle Nihei
I recently had the chance to sit down and talk with head trainer Michelle Nihei (pronounced Nee-Hay). In our conversation we covered a lot of ground; including her academic background prior to horse racing, the lessons she learned from working with Todd Pletcher for six years, the challenges facing a small barn, and several hot topics in the industry today. It was a lively discussion that I must admit headed in directions that I did not foresee. But, at the conclusion, I learned that Michelle is someone that truly cares about her horses, the people in her stable, and the future of the horse racing industry.
Where are you from originally?
I was born in Calgary, Alberta. I went from the University of Saskatchewan, where I got my undergraduate and Master’s degree, to the University of Kentucky for my PhD (in Neuroscience). Read More >>
Mar 11
2014
The following story was contributed by my horseplayer friend, Vince The Volcano.
A regular horseplayer has many ups and downs in this game and each person’s individual personality determines which of these swings you remember the most. For me, it’s the losing stories that I remember fondly. Seriously, who wants to hear a person tell you they’re winning all the time? I love hearing the stories that we horseplayers can relate to. It makes us feel better about ourselves because as you listen to another’s tale you can’t help but think, “I’m not the only one.”
One of my favorite stories occurred in my early years of horse playing and I remember it like it was yesterday. It was October of 1989 and I was fresh out of college. It was the days of no wives, kids or any responsibilities. On this particular Saturday in October there was a group of eight of us hunkered down in someone’s living room with cases of beer and multiple TV’s setup to enjoy a day of college football (ah to be young again). What the group didn’t know was that I was about to sell them on the ride of a lifetime, by making a serious run at a Pick-6, the most elusive bet in horse racing.
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Mar 6
2014
Getting Out of the Gate Home Page – On an Android Phone
In November we announced that the popular phone and tablet App Horse Races NOW added us to the iPhone and iPad versions of their program. Since that time, they have also added us to the Android version of their App. This addition now provides a “mobile friendly” version of our website to all of our followers on all mobile devices.
This is especially important now that we have attracted many new readers accessing our website on mobile devices. Also, for the Horse Races NOW subscribers, our articles are presently being featured in their daily e-mail of racing stories. If you see an article of interest in your e-mail, and you are on a mobile device, you can view it using the methods described in this article.
In addition to the new HRN visitors, we have also been receiving inquiries from other readers on how to view our articles using their mobile devices. The short answer is this … first, download and install the Horse Races NOW App on your phone or tablet. Then, look at the steps below to see how our content is displayed inside of their App.
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Mar 1
2014
Dylan Davis
Dylan Davis is the son of Robbie Davis, a very successful jockey on the New York and California racing circuits for nearly two decades. Dylan is currently an apprentice rider, riding full-time at Gulfstream Park. During a recent visit to Gulfstream Park, I sat down with Dylan in the grandstand on a dark day of racing. He explained how he initiated his own interest in riding, the mechanics of the apprentice system, and his special connection with the Wesley Ward stable.
During the discussion, several times Dylan became quite animated and demonstrated that special quality of youthful exuberance. This young man is clearly excited about what he’s doing, and intent on working as hard as possible to keep the odds in his favor.
Where are you from originally?
I grew up in Saratoga Springs and went to Saratoga High School. When I was younger I was traveling with my dad though; at Saratoga in the summer, Spring and Fall at Belmont and Aqueduct, and in the winter here at Gulfstream. And once he retired, we resided in Saratoga.
How deep in your bloodlines does horse racing go?
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Feb 24
2014
Buzzy Tenney
Buzzy Tenney is the long-time Assistant Trainer to Hall of Fame Head Trainer Shug McGaughey. In 2013, he was a member of the team that won the Kentucky Derby with a horse named Orb. If there is a friendlier person in all of horse racing … I can’t imagine it.
During a recent visit to the backside at Gulfstream Park, Buzzy sat down with me and shared his story. From getting started in the business with no prior horse experience to winning his very first Kentucky Derby last year, Buzzy is a shining example of a hard-working horseman, who has learned his trade from the ground up and continues to practice it on a daily basis.
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Feb 19
2014
In a prior article, we explained the concept of Boxing Bets, and in particular Boxing Exacta and Trifecta Wagers. In this article we will explain why we think Weighted Wagers is a better approach and should be used with the majority of Exacta and Trifecta wagers, especially when you feel the horses have disparate chances of winning.
Boxing wagers assumes that each horse has an equivalent chance of winning. And, maybe after handicapping a race, that is exactly how you feel. If that’s the case, then by all means make a “Box” wager. But, often you have a preference for one horse, over another, possibly over another. In that case, if you’re handicapping is good … shouldn’t you be rewarded appropriately if your opinion turns out to be correct?
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Feb 14
2014
T.C. Stevens
In Part 1 of our Meet T.C. Stevens article, T.C. explains that his horse racing bloodlines go very deep on both sides of his family tree. Not only is his dad (Gary Stevens) a jockey, but his mom’s side of the family is loaded with current and former jockeys and trainers. T.C. also introduced us to his wife, Jaime, who is his main “go-to” person in the stable … and told us the story about his first winner (Sultry Warrior) at 50-1 odds, who was the same horse that flipped over on him and broke T.C.’s leg on Day 2 of his head training career. Click here to read Part 1 about T.C. Stevens.
In Part 2, T.C. explains how he deals with the ups and downs of this business, shares some of his upcoming goals, and describes his “horse whisperer” abilities.
Read More >>
Feb 10
2014
T.C. and Jaime Stevens
Tory (T.C.) Stevens is the son of Hall-of-Fame rider Gary Stevens. But, unlike his dad, T.C. is trying to make his mark on the sport of Thoroughbred Horse Racing through different means … as a head trainer.
He launched his racing stable on March 28, 2013 and two days later his leg was broken while riding one of his two horses in training. That might deter some new trainers, but as I learned from my visit with T.C. at Gulfstream Park, this young man does not discourage easily – a necessary quality for surviving in a very challenging profession.
During my visit at Gulfstream Park, T.C. introduced me to his horses, and then he offered me the lone chair in his office while he pulled up a pail. We had the following conversation.
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Feb 5
2014
I just returned from an extended visit to Gulfstream Park in sunny south Florida. With any trip, there are usually a few stories to tell. So, here a couple of mine.
I got a late start on my handicapping the morning of January 19, so I arrived at the track just before the 3rd race. Since I had not ‘capped the 3rd race, I decided to just sit in the paddock area and watch the horses march in. Directly behind me was standing a young couple. As the horses began entering from the saddling shed, I overheard the following conversation:
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Jan 31
2014
In Part 1 of our interview with Larry, we discussed his preparation for races, how he got interested in the job of track announcer, and how calling races for television differs from the job of being a track announcer. Click here to read Part 1 on Larry Collmus.
In Part 2, we discuss some of the particular things he looks for when calling a race, his favorite horses, his hiring by NBC Sports, and one of his all-time favorite race calls by someone other than himself. Read More >>
