http://hrt411.blogspot.com/

Monday, August 22, 2011

Night School - Handicapping Tournaments

MONDAY, AUG. 22 -- TOPIC: HANDICAPPING TOURNAMENTS
Special Guest: John Doyle, winner of the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship!

This week's Night School session will cover the increasingly popular world of handicapping tournament play. The session will be led by Joe Kristufek and Jeremy Plonk. They will be joined by special Guest Instructor John Doyle, the Scottsdale, Ariz., resident who won $500,000 and an Eclipse Award as “Handicapper of the Year” at last January’s Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC).

The session will also feature an in-depth interview with eight-time NHC qualifier Ross Gallo and video insights from NBC Sports’ Bob Neumeier, who also happens to be a successful tournament player.

The 90-minute program will begin with a 30-minute panelist discussion on tournament play, then follow with a 30-minute question-and-answer session during which racing fans worldwide can ask the experts about the evening's subject matter. The final 30 minutes of the program will be the weekly "Jump Ball" segment where fans can discuss anything in the world of racing, including their reaction to Saturday’s TVG Alabama Stakes.

For an advance look at Monday night's video introduction from Joe Kristufek, including an interview with Ross Gallo, visit the Night School Youtube page.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

TwinSpires Contest & Free Pick

With Saratoga now complete (see previous post), it is time to get back the Horse Racing Tournaments.

As I ride Amtrak to Atlantic City (ain' technology great), am handicapping the TwinSpires Contest.

To enter Tournament and /or join TwinSpires, click here, then on "Contests":

This great online tournament has format of Win & Place with 10 pre selected races of:

Arlington Park #5 - (4:02 ET)

Delaware #8 - (4:24 ET)

Calder #10 - (4:40 ET)

Delaware #9 - (4:51 ET)

Saratoga #9 - (5:12 ET)

Monmouth Park #10 - (5:24 ET)

Saratoga #10 - (5:45 ET)

Woodbine T-bred #10 - (5:55 ET)

Golden Gate Fields #6 - (6:23 ET)

Del Mar #5 - (7:05 ET)into

Prices for first 16 places, including 1st place getting cash & an entry into TwinSpires.com Online Handicapping Championship (TSOHC) held on November 19 tourney which provides opportunity to qualify for NTRA tournament in Las Vegas in 2012.

Todays Free Longshot Pick:

SAR Race 9; Horse #6

IN TE DOMINE (L)

Jockey = Dominguez, R A121 lbs. Tr: Rice, Linda ML:12/1

Linda Rice had this horse entered in a Friday Saratoga but scratched for this race. Jockey change back to Dominguez who has 2 wins on this horse & is 30% Win; 60% ITM with “P” Type horses.

Good Luck to all

Missing the “Great” Saratoga

4 Day trip into the past (Saratoga) is over for this year. Great Friends, Great Food & Drink, Great Race Course, Great Horses, Great Trainers, Great Jockeys, Great Weather.

3 Days of live handicapping resulted in a minor profit. Live Races are much different than horse handicapping tournaments in that you get to focus on different aspects of the “game” such as Exactas, Tri's, Pick 3, Pick 4, etc. It is also a much more social event in that you are surrounded by thousands of fans filled with excitement to see “their” horses win or lose.

You also get to move around the race course from sitting in the clubhouse to pre race viewing in the wooded paddock to watching from the rail at the finish line. You get the sights, sounds, smells of historic “SPA”.

Outside of the daily walk to the track, visits were made to the Brunswick (B&B of choice), Turf Club Restaurant & Bar formerly the Springwater (especially the bar!!!), Sabinas and Parting Glass.

Nightly ritual of meeting on the Brunswick porch was as comfortable as always with the same people met over the past 4 years from Boston, Chicago, NYC, Philadelphia. Swapping stories of the Pick 4s won and lost, how the objection in the 10^th cost 1 person a small ticket but helped another to a a bigger ticket. Then in Race 10 on Friday, the “judge” hit the Trifecta for over $5,000 !!!

Great Time in Saratoga 2011 !!!!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Saratoga Bound !!!

No tournament this week, instead am heading to Saratoga Springs for a couple of days to bet the horses live.

“From New York City you drive north for about 175 miles, turn left on Union Avenue and go back 100 years,” is a very appropriate quote from famous sports writer Red Smith. Driving west from the Boston area the same experience. From the Atlantic Ocean through the Berkshires and into the Adirondacks, the leisurely drive takes you back to the charm of the early 1900s.

We stay at the Brunswick Bed & Breakfast which is located on Union Ave directly across the street from the famed Saratoga Race Course. Kirk Nichols is a great inn keeper who makes everyone feel welcome and cooks a great breakfast. The B&B also has a great porch with rocking chairs for partaking in an adult beverage after a day at the races.

We will start each day with a walk across to the track for morning work outs. Get a cup of coffee and a copy of the current Indian Charlie ("We never let the truth get in the way of a good story") or the "Form" and sitting in one of the owners boxes in the clubhouse is a great way to start the day. Watching the workout riders getting instructions from the trainers provides insight into the concept of "works" which most people only see as numbers in the form.

Its then back to the Brunswick for breakfast and some morning handicapping on the porch. You may also be lucky enough to get Neil's POD (Pick Of the Day) which is guaranteed to hit at least 1 out of 10 times!!!!

Back to the track around 12:30 either to the clubhouse, grandstand or the picnic area. Each has its pros & cons but I enjoy the picnic area the best as you can reserve a table when you go to the workouts and then enjoy the shade of 100+ year old trees as you watch the horses travel the path to the paddock before each race or watch the races on the TVs posted on towers throughout the picnic area.

After a successful day at the races (or not) back to the Brunswick porch for some adult beverages and discussions with the other guests.

Great restaurants are nearby with a short walk to downtown or a short drive to the surrounding area.

Back to the porch, sleep, repeat !!!