2017 Horse Racing Thread (record, commentator, history, ticket)
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I guess this thread is mostly about betting, but I'm more a fan of breeding and bloodlines. 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb just had his first two winners this summer, Earth, back in June, and Golden Orb, yesterday at Saratoga.
I don't follow Serling but I do listen to him now and then on NYRA.
Serling and Gabby pick their top 4 on every race and spend 45 minutes before the day to go over each race and who they chose and why. Serling is the worst. He avoids the favorite because of the price. Then he'll take a favorite to try to end the bleeding and loose again. I've never seen anyone fail to pick so few winners on a Saratoga card. He got tired of losing and took the favorite on the race where Pletcher had a 21-1 shot. Gabby took that horse to win and I only played it to show.
Then there is Maggie. I can not wager on a horse because his coat is shiny and he is prancing around the paddock. I can not stand her analysis based on that. And she must have a photographic memory or she makes stuff up. She'll say this guy looks better then I've seen him in years. She watches every horse and their physical condition for years?
What a joke and more of a joke that Serling and she picks very few winners too because she goes by cosmetics.
Gabby..........listen to her and you'll have some success.
As far as the state of horse racing this year we have some interesting scenarios. Arrogate who Baffert has said was the best horse since Secretariat is on a two race losing streak and might be good enough to run in The Classic. Bafftet thinks the Del Mar surface is not made for horses to come off the pace. Maybe he's right.
Then there are the Derby and Preakness winners. Both are on losing streaks and one or both may lose the Travers next Saturday. If they do they we may wonder if the Derby winner was a fluke and the Preakness winner was a fluke.
Serling and Gabby pick their top 4 on every race and spend 45 minutes before the day to go over each race and who they chose and why. Serling is the worst. He avoids the favorite because of the price. Then he'll take a favorite to try to end the bleeding and loose again. I've never seen anyone fail to pick so few winners on a Saratoga card. He got tired of losing and took the favorite on the race where Pletcher had a 21-1 shot. Gabby took that horse to win and I only played it to show.
Then there is Maggie. I can not wager on a horse because his coat is shiny and he is prancing around the paddock. I can not stand her analysis based on that. And she must have a photographic memory or she makes stuff up. She'll say this guy looks better then I've seen him in years. She watches every horse and their physical condition for years? What a joke and more of a joke that Serling and she picks very few winners too because she goes by cosmetics...
I don't know any horseplayers that would want to be public handicappers. The job requires that you make a selection for every race on the card, even though you wouldn't play some of those races with stolen money. You often have to make your selections without knowledge of the late scratches or the track condition. Many handicappers have to submit their selections the day before the race for publication the following day, and many have to 'cap several cards. I know one 'capper who spends only ten minutes on each race, which amounts to four hours for the three tracks that he covers.
On-air analysts are there to present information which helps horseplayers - especially newcomers - make more informed decisions about a race. Even hardened horseplayers tune in in search of information tidbits that might aid in their own race analysis. Of course, it is not mandatory that you watch or listen to any of them.
As for Serling, there's no middle ground; you either love him or you hate him. He's abrasive, obnoxious, and very opinionated, but one of the most knowledgeable people in the game. OTOH, Maggie is extremely popular. A third generation horsewoman, both her husband and father are trainers, and Maggie works horses in the morning. Her last-minute analysis of a horse's condition is highly valued by many horseplayers.
I think the joke is on people who have little or no understanding of physicality with regards to racehorses. Certain conformations lend themselves to success at certain distances and on certain surfaces. Last-minute paddock updates can be the difference between winning or losing a bet.
No, Maggie doesn't make stuff up. She uses DRF Formulator to refer to past notes, and she watches replays when she's not familiar with a runner.
What I like about TVG's coverage is that you can figure out the approach of SOME of their personnel. Caleb Keller's all about the charts; Bray was a trainer; Gino (no longer there) studied replays, and so on. Some of it can be interesting, even educational.
What I like about TVG's coverage is that you can figure out the approach of SOME of their personnel. Caleb Keller's all about the charts; Bray was a trainer; Gino (no longer there) studied replays, and so on. Some of it can be interesting, even educational.
Right. You may come away with something useful, or treat it as meaningless noise. There is always the mute button.
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