Sports Blog

An Overview of the Kinds of Horse Races

Although the public probably thinks of events like the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness when they think of horse races, those belong just to one type of race. But when you consider that human beings have been racing horses for as long as humans and horses have had any relationship, it isn’t surprising that people have developed many different ways of racing, and many different breeds of horses as well. While the Kentucky Derby and other such events belong to a category known as thoroughbred racing, there are many other equally organized and popular types of races.

Racing with thoroughbreds is a subset of a kind of race known as flat racing. This is where, as the name suggests, the races are run on a flat surface, normally made either of dirt or turf, and in turn the turf can either be natural or is sometimes synthetic.

The flatness of the tracks, though, doesn’t mean that they are automatically straight too. Most are actually designed to be oval in shape, and have no banking on the corners.  Read more...

Different Kinds of Horse Race Events Each Have Their Own Excitement

If you’ve never been to a horse race, then are you in for a treat! There are so many different kinds of races that you can go to that you might find yourself very busy if you really become interested. Of course the most well known type is thoroughbred racing, which is what you saw if, for example, you’ve ever watched any of the Triple Crown races on television. This is a race run on a flat, usually oval track, and the horses are ridden by jockeys.

The type of horse race run in the Triple Crown or other events involving thoroughbreds is known as a flat race, since it’s run on a flat track. Quarter horses, too, run at full speed on a flat track which, instead of being oval in shape like the one for thoroughbreds, is a straight track a quarter mile in length. Harness races, on the other hand, take place on an oval track that is not flat, but banked on the turns. These races involve standard-bred horses that pull lightweight carts manned with a driver.  Read more...

Understanding The Kentucky Derby For Horse Racing Novices

The Kentucky Derby takes place every year on its traditional date of the first Saturday in May. This is a race that many people follow and try to handicap even if theyre not typically horse racing enthusiasts. Understanding race horses is hard work, and a discipline unto itself.

While understanding and predicting horse races is a very complex discipline, here are some basics that can help the amateur understand the Kentucky Derby. Back during the seventies, it was a race dominated by the favorite including three great Triple Crown winners”Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed”and a great horse that came close, Spectacular Bid. Since Spectacular Bid won the Derby in’79, however, you can count the favorites who’ve won the race on one hand with fingers left over. If I was a serious horseplayer, I might not advise you to do this but since I’m just worried about predicting the outcome of this one race Im going to suggest that you forget about the favorite altogether. Not only will you not be flying in the face of recent history, but also it allows you to concentrate on the horses offering greater value.  Read more...

Horse Racing Is A Very Old Sport

Horse racing is an elderly sport which yet today is very popular. This sport has been encircling the world for thousands of years now. Horse racing is not only an entertainment to multiple people but also for several, it is their job.

One of the discussions around horse racing is the betting. Bet on horses could generate large money or great loss. Many persons who enjoy gambling, like to bear a good luck mascot to help them win sometimes it is possible for the mascot to be helpful or the people caring it believes the mascot make the horse come first. With even a tiny interest in horse racing sometimes you have notably search for a system to bet with that would bring untold riches. While it is true that there are no sure things in life and particularly in horse racing you should ever consume money on horse betting that is in your plan for living.  Read more...

The History Of Horse Racing At Del Mar

Southern Californias Del Mar Racetrack has been is often overshadowed by East Coast venues like Churchill Downs and Belmont Park. The reality is that the 72 year old track has a history to rival their better known counterparts that includes the greatest horses and jockeys in the sport, as well as a healthy dose of show biz glitz. Operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and located 20 miles North of San Diego, its perhaps most famous for its iconic slogan: “Where The Surf Meets the Turf.”

The Del Mar Race Track was founded in the late’30’s by a group of business and show biz elite, including Bing Crosby, Oliver Hardy and Jimmy Durante. During much of the pre WW II era, horse racing ran a close second to baseball in mainstream popularity, so these racing enthusiasts were clearly at the right place at the right time in terms of market forces.  Read more...

An Introduction To Horse Race Betting

Sports gambling is a popular pursuit because everyone understands the basics of how teams win and lose and why. Horses, meanwhile, are an entirely different animal”no pun intended. It is a complex discipline unto itself, and a sound background in handicapping sports doesn’t insure success, or even mediocrity in handicapping the ponies. In fact, the history of sports betting is replete with successful gamblers that had a weakness for horse betting, with an emphasis on the word weakness. Most notable, perhaps, is the former resident handicapper at CBS, Jimmy The Greek Snyder. The story goes that The Greek was a first rate sports handicapper, but he couldn’t pick the winner of a one horse race when playing the ponies. The bad news for The Greek is that he enjoyed playing the ponies nonetheless, and often frittered away the money he won at the other end of the sportsbook.

Below are some very basic concepts that you need to know to enjoy a day at the horse track. This information doesn’t even scratch the surface of what you’ll need to know if your goal is to become a serious horse betting devotee. If that is the case, you’re best advised to check out one of the many theoretical books devoted to the subject.  Read more...

Seattle Slew’s Legacy Of Horse Racing Greatness

Seattle Slew died on May 7, 2002 at the age of 28. One of only 11 winners of horse racing’s prestigious ‘Triple Crown’ he is by default considered among the all time greats in thoroughbred racing. Of the eleven horses to win the Triple Crown, he is the only one to do so with an undefeated record. He was also notable due to his humble beginnings, and is the only Triple Crown winner to have been purchased at public auction. He retired to stud in’78 and sired over 100 stakes race winners including’84 Kentucky Derby champion, Swale. Slew’s offspring have earned a combined $76 million dollars at the race track. Slew wasn’t the most majestic looking creature by the lofty standards of race horses, but was possessed with the heart, toughness and courage of a professional prizefighter.  Read more...