By Jude “Pontiff of the Pick Four” Feld
Summer has arrived and that harkens the opening of American racing’s two most attended meets, Del Mar and Saratoga. Thoroughbred racing fans are quite divided about which racing Mecca is best. Both have their strengths and weaknesses but it really boils down to personal preference or family custom as to which side horseplayers take. Read more
By Jude “Pontiff of the Pick Four” Feld
When I trained horses, I loved Thursdays. Read more
By Jude “Pontiff of the Pick Four” Feld
Win, lose or draw, Jack Nicklaus probably has done more post-round television interviews than any golfer in history. One of those had a big influence on my life, as a person and a horseplayer. Read more
By Jude “Pontiff of the Pick Four” Feld
7th Race – $100,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint
This race is named in honor of the late, great racing secretary who came up with the idea for the “Summit of Speed.” Bob Umphrey was a magnificent human being and a good friend to many in racing. UNO CALIENTE has run twice at today’s five furlong distance on the turf and those two races are his best. He exits a wire-to-wire victory at Calder on May 12 and has posted two bullet workouts in the interim to indicate his fitness and sharpness. Jockey Manny Cruz only enhances his chances. DETERMINATO was second to the top choice on the grass two races back, but didn’t run as well on the dirt in his last start. He is already a stakes winner and is also training well for this race. TALE OF A CHAMPION has never run this short. He is undefeated on the turf and should be flying in the drive. He is a must-use in all trifecta and superfecta wagers. Read more
By Rich Nilsen.
(Reprinted with permission from our friends at A Game of Skill)
Before Louisiana political consultant Michael Beychok had even accepted his title and seven figure check for his NTRA Handicapper of the Year victory, many horseplayers were already plotting in their own minds how they were going to attack the tournament scene in 2012. Now that the winner of the National Handicapping Champion (NHC) earns a huge paycheck for two great days of picking the ponies, the interest in the year-long event has skyrocketed. Read more
By Jude “Pontiff of the Pick Four” Feld
Handicapping on John Engelhardt’s “Winning Ponies” radio show prior to the 2012 Boiling Springs (G3) at Monmouth Park, the host and I discussed one of my favorite handicapping angles. Far from complicated, horses with this pattern usually jump off the page, but often times they are overlooked in the wagering due to competitors more accomplished on the turf drawing most of the betting action. Read more
By Jude “Pontiff of the Pick Four” Feld
The horseplayer’s main job is to look for mistakes and exploit them. Most often this involves public perception of a horse and the wagering on it. Multiple wins, high speed figures and a solid performance in a troubled trip are just a few of the things that people latch on to when handicapping and the prices on those horses becomes deflated. Read more
By Eclipse Award-Winning Writer Sean Clancy, St Publishing
Hate our game? I love our game. I love it for the madness. For the unknown.
For the highs and lows. I love it because out of all us experts, from all
the analysis, from all the concocting and conjecture, nobody could come up
with this scenario. I’ll Have Another scratched Friday afternoon, the day
before his attempt at ending the Triple Crown drought. Some game. Read more
By Jude “Pontiff of the Pick Four” Feld
A lot of talk during the weeks leading up to the 2012 Belmont Stakes (G1) centered on jockey switches. Two of the main contenders, Union Rags and Dullahan, who on race day would be the top two odds choices when I’ll Have Another scratched, were both changing riders. Read more
By Jude “Pontiff of the Pick Four” Feld
When I was in high school, I walked into a friend’s house after our last class of the day. On the coffee table was a Playboy magazine. Read more
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