The Idiot’s Guide to Forecast Betting

• Author: MyHorseRacingSpace Team
• Filed under: Betting Systems, Horse Racing Tips, Other Betting Stuff
• Date: Jun 18,2008

If you’re new to horse racing, you’ve probably heard of forecast betting and wondered why people would bet on the weather. Well, guess what? This isn’t about the weather. This is another type of betting that could actually provide higher returns. That is, if you win, of course.

In this post, I’m going to give you a quick education on forecast betting – its 2 basic types, plus 2 other slightly more complicated variations of the basics.

First thing’s first – the straight forecast. Simply put, you have to pick the first 2 horses that will win the race. Also, you have to pick ‘em according to how they will finish - meaning, horse A must win first place, while horse B wins second. It’s as simple as that. The only catch is unless you’re psychic, or at least know your tips by heart, it mostly involves guesswork.

Next, we have the reverse forecast. Similar to the straight forecast, you’ll be picking two horses. This time, however, they can finish in any order, as long as they both win first and second. This type of forecast betting would require higher stakes, which also means that you’ll be looking at bigger returns if your horses win.

Third, we have the slightly more complicated tricast forecast (it rhymes!). As the name suggests, this involves 3 horses. You won’t be predicting the race outcome, however. Instead, you’ll be challenging the punter to name the first 3 horses to win – in order. Payouts are considerably hefty on this one.

Lastly, we have an excellent spin-off of the reverse forecast, the combination tricast. Again, you get to challenge punter to name 3 horses to win, but this time, in no particular order. This is a considerably costly bet, but one with excellent returns.

Indeed, to participate in forecast betting, you would need to have quite an adventurous spirit, as well as a rather deep bankroll. The bets are costly, and the odds of winning are slim. As always, bet what you can afford to lose. It’s better to be safe than sorry – and broke - any day.

Big Brown: What – or WHO – is to Blame?

• Author: MyHorseRacingSpace Team
• Filed under: Horse Racing News, Horse Racing Results, Other Betting Stuff
• Date: Jun 9,2008

A lot of hopes were shattered last Saturday when 2-5 favorite Big Brown finished last at the Belmont Stakes, leaving the Triple Crown unclaimed yet again. Long shot Da’ Tara (who Big Brown previously crushed in the Florida Derby by 23 lengths) won the race. Her stunning victory, however, has been overshadowed by the general disappointment that Big Brown lost the race (and the Triple Crown) – and the many questions why he not only lost the race of his life, but finished last.

So what really happened? Nobody knows for sure, but there has been a lot of finger-pointing since Saturday. After the race, the big bay colt was given a full physical my IEAH officials. Breathing problems and pulmonary bleeding has since been ruled out. Big Brown appears to be in peak physical condition.

A theory of why he performed poorly was that he hasn’t had a steroid shot since April 15. Trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. has always been quite open about the horse’s steroid use every 15th of each month, and the sudden cessation of shots in May naturally fueled speculation. Big Brown, however, has been performing spectacularly since his last steroid shot. In fact, that was the reason why Dutrow decided to discontinue the shot. Experts also attest that Winstrol, the anabolic steroid used on Dutrow’s horses, merely increases appetite and aggression, so it’s discontinuation was unlikely to influence Big Brown’s performance.

Another possible cause was the crack found on the horse’s left front hoof earlier last week. Experts insist, however, that the quarter crack was not an issue at all. A fiberglass and acrylic patch was applied to the area on Friday, and said to have rendered the hoof merely an annoyance, nothing life-threatening or even career-ending – and certainly not a reason to finish last in a race.

Recent reports are now blaming jockey Kent Desormeaux for bad judgment and even worse handling. Experts argue that Desormeaux ‘turned off’ Big Brown early in the race; hence, why the horse couldn’t be ‘turned on’ at the final stretch. Desormeaux, in his defence, insists that Big Brown wasn’t quite into the race, and his decision to slow him down was based on the knowledge that winning the race was proving futile and his main concern was bringing the horse to the finish safely.

Whatever the reason for Big Brown’s stunning loss, it doesn’t change the fact that the public suffered an estimated loss of $15 million. This just proves that, in horse racing, even a sure thing can turn into nothing.

Born to Run; Born to Greatness: Why Eight Belles Should Not Be Turned into an Indictment of the Sport She Became a Memory Of

• Author: MyHorseRacingSpace Team
• Filed under: Horse Racing News, Other Betting Stuff
• Date: Jun 4,2008

The race was meant to be a metaphor - lone girl runs a tough course with the boys, gives it all she’s got, and finishes with flying colors. Instead, it ended the way it wasn’t supposed to - an ambulance, two broken ankles, and a horse dead before sundown.

Tragedy at the Derby

Eight Belles was the only filly to run in the 134th Kentucky Derby. She ran a tough race and came in second to Big Brown. Well after rounding the finish line, however, she collapsed. Moments later and even while Big Brown’s triumph was celebrated, she was euthanized.

“There was no way to save her,” said trainer Larry Jones with tears in his eyes. A veteran horseman who had seen more than his fair share of broken horses, Jones seems both broken and heartbroken by his loss. Eight Belles had been the star of his stable. “These things are our family. We put everything that we have into them, and they give us everything they have.”

Horses and Heartbreak

Is heartbreak run-of-the-mill for a sport that’s run at breakneck speed? Eight Belles’ death raised an outcry from different corners of the world. Is the sport killing our horses? Is horse racing vicious and inhumane? Have breeders, in their zeal to produce lighter, faster horses, overbred thoroughbreds - and to disastrous consequences?

Amidst Grief, Greatness

It is my opinion that it would be no less vicious and inhumane to condemn horse racing as a whole all because of Eight Belles’ death. While horse racing admittedly has its share of flaws, it is no more violent than most contact sports. Then, too, we must not overlook the facts behind the story. Eight Belles broke down after the finish, not while running the race. Horses typically break down during or shortly after the race. Such had not been the case with Eight Belles. She was not overrun; she had not been abused; she was not forced to run out of her league. While her death is a tragedy, it should not be made an indictment of the tracks and the greatness that surrounds it. After all, horse racing is not only about the money and the prestige. It’s more than that. It’s struggle against indomitable odds, friendship and kinship with the breed that runs on spirit and muscle and the recognition that greatness and valor come in all shapes, sizes, and yes, even species.

Cracked Hoof or Not: Will Big Brown Take The Triple Crown?

• Author: MyHorseRacingSpace Team
• Filed under: Horse Racing News, Other Betting Stuff
• Date: Jun 3,2008

So it looks like there’s a serious contender for the Triple Crown this year in the form of the latest hooved phenomenon, Big Brown. It’s about time, too, considering that no horse has won the Triple Crown for 30 years now since Affirmed won in 1978, though there have been some rather close calls over the years.

So far, the 3-year-old thoroughbred has had a perfect record. Earlier this year, Big Brown won the Kentucky Derby, making him the first thoroughbred to do so from the 20th gate since 1929. He then ran away with the Preakness on May 19th without a cinch. Of course, it all depends on how Big Brown will run on this weekend’s Belmont Stakes (June 7). The big question is will he be fit to run at the Stakes?

Last week, Big Brown missed 3 days of training owing to a quarter crack discovered on his left front hoof. A quarter crack is basically a vertical crack between the toe and heel of the hoof wall. Depending on the severity, it can extend all the way to where the hoof meets the leg’s skin. Though this is fairly common among racehorses, the question remains if it’s a good idea for the horse to be training extensively and running on Saturday. Since last year, Big Brown has been sidelined twice for abscesses in his right and left front hooves.

Right now Big Brown is under the care of hoof specialist Ian McKinlay who was meant to apply a fiberglass and acrylic patch on the hoof last Monday. However, he chose to hold off to until Friday, the day before the stakes, to give the crack, which according to him is a slight one, a chance to heal naturally.

Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. is very supportive of McKinlay’s decision and is fairly confident that Big Brown will be all set and ready to race on Saturday. In fact, he’s confident that Big Brown will take the Triple Crown. And why shouldn’t he be when the Crown hasn’t had a contender that anybody can really take seriously in years?

Indeed, Dutrow isn’t alone in the vote of confidence. We’re all looking forward to a new triple crown winner, and there’s no better contender than Big Brown.