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 Three Kentucky Derby future wager pools give horseplayers a chance to bet on the Run for the Roses and get better odds in some cases before the first Saturday in May.
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 Gulfstream Park’s main track of conventional dirt, above, holds up much better against the elements than Santa Anita Park’s Pro-Ride surface, which will be removed after the meeting ends April 18.
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 Who will be Horse of the Year? It should a tie between the leading ladies that dominated the 2009 racing scene.
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One of the best exotic wagers nowadays among a slew of betting options is the Pick 3. The payoffs can be handsome if some of your longshots come in.
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 Stud fees for the most part have fallen just like the world economy. But there are exceptions, especially among leading second-crop sires.
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 Racing returns to Hialeah Park more than eight years after closing on a sour note. The famous flamingos (picture by Brad Yazell) will once again fly for fans starting two days after Thanksgiving to February.
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There’s a handicapping tool worth trying no matter the track or surface. It’s a variation on speed provided by Brisnet.com that I found very helpful.
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One of my favorite wagers is the Pick 3, which is fairly new if you recall it wasn’t that long ago when the daily double was the only exotic bet. Did you know pari-mutuel wagering is only 143 years old?
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 Exacta wagers produce more lucrative returns than straight bets. But you must follow a set of rules that you can establish after checking out the advice of experts.
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Novice horseplayers need all the help they can get so here’s some good advice: Learn how to wager and handicap because Lady Luck is a fleeting companion.
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 Three thoroughbreds during the past 70 years have captured the hearts of racing fans: Seabiscuit (pictured), Secretariat and Barbaro. Each was a gallant hero in his own way.
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Do you watch the tote board when you’re at the track? Well, you should because the board is worth paying attention to if you want to know which horses are getting the most action and which ones are being ignored.
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A smart handicapper tries to discard false favorites from the real thing since top choices win about one-third of thoroughbred races no matter the racetrack.
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 When it comes to horse racing tips, it’s far better to rely on handicapping than so-called inside information at the track.
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There’s money to be made if you develop a winning strategy when handicapping maiden races.
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Want to catch a longshot? There are signs to help single out price horses, experts say, so learn how to recognize them.
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 They don’t breed ’em like they used to. Today’s handicap horses don’t carry their weight like the champions of old. Even Cigar, left, the biggest money winner of all time, only toted 130 pounds or more twice.
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Post positions are important depending on the track and distance. Some ovals tailor their races to avoid short runs to the clubhouse turn.
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 A piece of equipment you won't find in the past performances, but can prove quite helpful to a thoroughbred is the shadow roll. It helps to keep a horse's eyes focused forward and away from distractions underfoot.
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 What should you look for when handicapping horses coming off a layoff? There are many key points to consider, which include how the thoroughbred performs after a rest, short or long.
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 Understanding the talk of the track is important for horseplayers. There are scores of racing terms from "A" to "Y" that play a part in handicapping races. While you'll find various racing glossaries online, here's a sample of thoroughbred lingo to get you started.
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 Tropical Park was a grand old track that lost out because of the shift in South Florida's population. Did you hear the one about the alligator crossing the track? The facility is still associated with horses, but not thoroughbreds.
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To bounce or not to bounce, that is the question. Many handicappers believe in the bounce theory to some extent. Some debunk the hypothesis. Draw your own conclusions.
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 There's a lighter aspect to thoroughbreds, their jockeys and fans. Here's several that ought to tickle your funny bone.
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There are many handicapping tools, but two that rank real high on the horse are speed and pace figures. They are most helpful. In addition, you can use either or both.
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 The old war horse John Henry is dead seven months after his 32th birthday. There wasn't a more gutsy horse that got better with age. At 9, he won five graded stakes at five different tracks.
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Horses worth watching is a list of runners compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov that should do well or improve significantly next time out.
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 There's a great website that offers replays at major tracks around the country. But the free preview won't last much longer so you better check it out. If you wager often, RaceReplays.com will be a valuable asset.
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You must be alert handidcapping in person or while simulcasting because you never know when wagering opportunity knocks -- be it a fast or sloppy track. Here are two cases in point.
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 Sometimes a horse looks so good in the paddock or on the track that you must wager on the thoroughbred.
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You'll love the exciting world of horse racing. Whether you wager or not, stories about thoroughbreds, jockeys, trainers, races and tracks comprise an interesting sector of society. This website's motto is four little words: learn, study, practice, win. 
