Jun 18
2015
JUMBLE PUZZLE (Solution Below)
If you check the puzzle section of the newspaper you’re likely to find these two types of puzzles. Many horseplayers can be divided into these two broad categories. One is not necessarily better than the other, but understanding the Pros and Cons of both might help you decide which one fits your style.
A crossword player isn’t finished until they’ve finished filling in all of the words in the puzzle. A “crossword horseplayer” likes to evaluate all of the horses and angles before making his selections in a race. He sizes up every horse in categories of distance, class, pace, and form. He looks at result charts and watches video replays. Depending on the type of race he might sprinkle in some trainer statistics, age angles, jockey changes, etc. This describes me, I’m a “crossword horseplayer.”
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Jan 8
2015
I started this website as a challenge to myself, to give something back to a sport that I have loved for my entire adult life. And, to satisfy an internal drive I have to teach people about a sport that I feel is often misunderstood.
As I look into the future of 2015, the future of The Sport of Kings is very much in doubt. For those of you who only know Saratoga, Keeneland, or Del Mar … you might not fully realize that fact . But, every serious study within the equine industry shows steady decline in attendance, handle, and fans. As a whole, the racing industry in North America is struggling.
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Sep 29
2014
Or …
How did you do?
Did you have a good day?
Did you make any money?
After a day at the race track, you inevitably get one of these questions from family, friends, and co-workers.
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Apr 7
2014
As I begin my second year with Getting Out Of The Gate, I decided to answer the question most often posed to me, “Why exactly are you doing this website?” When I began this adventure, my answer was “to give something back to a sport that has given me so much.” But, recently I’ve come to realize that it runs much deeper than that. Now, my response is: Because Thoroughbred Horse Racing has an image problem. And, I believe that I can do something to help.
This leads to the question, “Why does horse racing have an image problem?” There are many people and organizations that will offer a long diatribe of issues. Unfortunately, as an individual, some of these problems I simply can’t fix. However, I will list three issues included in a recent Jockey Club Consumer Research report that I believe I can do something about.
- The complexity of the sport is seen as a major issue, even among existing fans.
- There are insufficient efforts to reach out to new fans.
- There is a perceived lack of integrity of the people involved in the sport.
Related to these problems, I recently asked an acquaintance why he only attends the races once a year, despite living less than thirty minutes from Saratoga racetrack. He replied, “It’s too damn hard, and it’s filled with crooks.”
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Jan 8
2014
I started this website as a challenge to myself, to give something back to a sport that I have loved for my entire adult life. And, to satisfy an internal drive I have to teach people about a sport that I feel is often misunderstood.
As I look into the future of 2014, the future of The Sport of Kings is very much in doubt. For those of you who know only Saratoga or Keeneland, you might not be able to grasp that fact. But, every serious study within the equine industry shows steady decline in attendance, handle, and fans. As a whole, the racing industry in North America is struggling.
Read More >>
Oct 24
2013
Every now and then I find myself trying to answer the question, “Why am I such an avid fan of horse racing?”
It’s not about the gambling. There are dozens of ways to gamble. Casino games, poker, bingo, professional sports, lottery tickets, etc. And other than the occasional home poker game, I currently partake in none of these.
It’s not that I’m a sports fanatic. I used to follow professional baseball, basketball, and football. Baseball I left behind about 25 years ago. Basketball was cut out 15 years ago. And, after 17 years of subscribing to NFL Sunday Ticket, I cancelled it this past year. Horse racing is now the only sport that I follow on a regular basis. Read More >>
Aug 19
2013
You walk into the racetrack.
Buy yourself a program and a box of popcorn … sit down, and crack open a nice cold beer.
You scan through the races, looking for something familiar. A favorite jockey, number, or name. But this time, you decide no more … from now on I’m going to figure this game out. I mean how hard can it be? My Uncle Neal does it and he’s a few races short of a program.
So you buy yourself a copy of The Daily Racing Form. You’ve got a plan. Listen closely to the track’s public handicapper, follow along in the racing form, jot down what he says, hoping this will all make sense. So, you wait. Then ten minutes before post time he comes on, and in the span of two minutes, he says …
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Apr 26
2013
One of the beautiful things about horseplayers is they come in every shape and size imaginable; and they all have their own style. And as most good horseplayers will tell you, they have evolved, and adapted their style over time.
Sometimes it’s an adaptation forced on them by a fundamental change in the game (e.g. the introduction of Synthetic surfaces at some race tracks). Other times it comes from within, as they adjust something like their wagering style to better fit their personality. More about that in a future post. In either case, external or internal, Darwin would be proud of their adaptability.
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Apr 11
2013
Webster’s Definition of Handicap:
To assess the relative winning chances (of contestants) or the likely winner (of a contest).
Simple enough. But, as with so many things, the devil is in the details. In his book, Ainslie’s Complete Guide to Thoroughbred Horse Racing, Tom Ainsle writes the following about handicapping horse races:
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Apr 6
2013
Proverb:
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Translation into Horse Racing:
“Give a man your picks and you have a fan for a day. Teach a man to handicap, and you have a fan for a lifetime.”
This has always been my philosophy when introducing horse racing to my family and friends. And it all started with my wife more than thirty years ago. But, let me first confess … it began for selfish reasons.
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