SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2019
LEARN TO BET HARNESS RACING PAGE 2 Saturday, October 26, 2019 DAILY RACING FORM WWW.DRF.COM
DRF Harness Wagering Guide
others prefer larger (7/8 mile or 1 mile) By Derick Giwner Understanding Track Size ovals in Harness. • It is important to take note of track Helpful hint: Picking winners at half-mile size. Just like in Thoroughbred racing tracks is different from one-mile tracks. STEP ONE where Belmont Park is a mile-and-a-half in Figure out where your comfort level lies circumference but Churchill Downs is one and stick to one or two similar-sized tracks mile, tracks in Harness Racing can vary in to learn the ropes. Starting from Scratch size. While the majority of races in Harness You just walked into your local harness are contested at the distance of one mile, track for the first time or maybe you are a that could result in a horse covering two, STEP TWO Thoroughbred player and decided to down- three or four turns during the race. This load a free Harness program from your is important because racing away from the favorite ADW. What do you do now? inside path on a turn causes loss of ground Speed and Recent Activity The absolute basics for complete newbies: and makes horses work harder. The easiest way to begin handicapping • Yes, there are numbers and data every- • If you are not sure what type of track is to answer a simple question: Which where on the page. Don’t be intimidated! you are visiting, watch a race. On half- are the fastest horses in the race? Know- Every item is easily explainable and by the mile tracks a horse must travel around ing the answer will not provide you the end of this guide, the task of understanding four turns during the race. On five-eighths winner but it will give you a list of strong the information won’t be overwhelming. tracks a horse must navigate three turns. contenders. • Familiarize yourself with the layout. On seven-eighths or one-mile tracks, horses • Listed as #14 in the Harness Eye User Each page will have a Race Number (top will race around two turns. Guide (HEG) is the final time for each left) and Horses’ Names and Numbers • Keep in mind, just like some horses race horses’ last race. When you have horses (along the left border). Along with the track better over the turf or dirt in Thoroughbred that are competing at the same track each name, these are the most vital pieces of racing, some horses race better on smaller information if you want to make a bet. size tracks, (1/2 mile or 5/8 mile) while Continued on page 4
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PAGE 4 Saturday, October 26, 2019 DAILY RACING FORM WWW.DRF.COM
Continued from page 2 week, a quick comparison of the times of each horses’ last few races can provide clues as to the which is the best horse. Be careful to not compare different tracks because a half-mile track is typically slower than a five-eighths and a five-eighths is usually slower than a mile. • An even easier way to compare horses is via a speed figure. This number, like the Beyer Figure commonly used in Thorough- bred racing, provides an easy to under- stand indicator of each horses’ current ability. In most cases it is just a raw number that tells you how fast a horse performed in each race. DRF Harness Eye uses a modi- fied figure called the “Eye Rating” which also takes into account trip, track size, and other variables. The Eye Rating (#15 in the HEG) can be very valuable when compar- ing horses moving from different tracks. Other program companies like Trackmas- ter have numbers for speed, pace and other categories, to similarly assist in uncovering winners easily. • If you don’t understand all of the numbers in the program or don’t want to learn how to handicap, just comparing each horses’ recent speed figures (higher the Derick Giwner Photos number, the better) can help you determine Tim Tetrick (left) has led North America in earnings among drivers multiple times while trainer Ron Burke has stood atop the leaderboard since 2014. the fastest horses in each race. And the fast- est horses tend to win more often than not. they have a top catch-driver (person whose establish a winning record, they usually Unlike Thoroughbreds which race primary job is to drive horses) rather than have an edge on luring the most sought- perhaps once a month on average, Stan- a trainer or unknown driver in the sulky. after talent. That is why many of the best dardbreds compete closer to three times trainers in the sport have very large barns in a 30-day period and average well over 20 and at times multiple horses in the same starts per year. The most important races Drivers race. for each horse are the recent ones as they • The statistics for each driver appear next • The most important number on the reveal how they are currently feeling. We to their names in each race. You should give program is quite possibly a trainer’s call this “form”. extra consideration to drivers that have a winning percentage. Horse racing is very • Always note the dates of a horses’ most higher (10% or more) win percentage. much a trainer’s game and a top conditioner recent races. A horse that is racing at regu- • Take note of any driver changes from can make a horse faster. lar and consistent intervals – ideally every the horses’ previous race. If a horse was • Trainers will typically win somewhere one to two weeks – is more likely to be fit. A driven by his trainer in his last start and between one and 35 percent of their races. horse that has been away for a while may now picks up a high-percentage driver, Just because a trainer is winning at a 30 have been sick or unsound. this is typically a sign of confidence and percent clip at one track, it does not mean • There are exceptions to the above rule. the horse’s chance of victory would likely that their success will translate into victory Younger horses (2- and 3-year-olds), espe- increase. at a major track like the Meadowlands. cially those competing in stakes (higher • Leading drivers will often be listed to • It would be wise to avoid trainers that quality) races will often have larger gaps drive multiple horses in the same race. win less than 10 percent of their races, but between races to keep them fresh and When a successful driver is listed to drive be aware of your horse’s odds, and give sound (healthy). two or more horses in the same race, he extra consideration to a low-percentage • Look for past performance lines that usually drives the horse he feels has the trainer with a horse that is listed at lower read “scr-sick / scr-injured” for an indica- best chance of winning. Most past perfor- then expected odds. These situations could tion of recent illness. Be wary of betting mances will list this information on the mean that the horse had something go these horses, as they could need a few races bottom of each race page. wrong previously and it is really better to get into top shape (especially true of • While a driver often picks the best than they look on paper. lower-level horses). horse in the race when given options, some- • Keep in mind that certain trainers times they will choose a horse because of might only ship their horses in on occasion. a personal connection, or to obtain more Look for trainers with a high success rate STEP THREE drives from that stable down the road. but fewer starts (10-30) - as they often turn These preferences take time to learn but out to be good betting options. easily become common knowledge when Helpful Hints: A great horse will make Who are the human connections? following a track over time. an average driver look good. An average The abilities of driver and trainer are driver can make a good horse look bad. extremely important when assessing a horses’ chances of winning. Most of the Trainers time, horses perform at a higher level when • Trainers are like coaches. Once they Continued on page 6 WORLD-CLASS STANDARDBRED RACING 4 NIGHTS EVERY MONDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY
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Continued from page 4 a legitimate excuse for poor performance. Another bad trip is when a horse is first to make a move on the outside (first-over STEP FOUR or uncovered). These horses will have one “out” at the half and three-quarters while also being between first and fourth posi- Deciphering horse ability tion at those calls. These lines can often be 1) What type of competition has my horse disregarded because the horse had to work been racing against? harder and travel a longer distance than • One of the most important factors in the competition in that race. handicapping harness races is the type of Helpful Hints: Some people may think race (class, outlined in red in the sample) that a higher purse means a horse is in which the horses have been competing. competing in better quality races, but be Classes can range from a bottom level like careful! Some tracks offer higher purses Non-winners of $500 in last 5 starts (NW500) than others for the same class of horses or $2,000 Claiming (2000Clm) all the way up despite the fact that the quality of horses are to Open Handicap or Stakes races (Hamble- in fact inferior. Harness Racing is generally tonian). A condition like NW500 means that an early speed dominated sport, so when the horse has not won $500 total in its last 5 good horses make the lead they tend to win starts. Most tracks use conditions like these under normal situations. that are based on performance in their previ- ous four to six starts. On the claiming side, 2000Clm indicates that the horse was eligible STEP FIVE to be purchased for $2,000 in that race. If a horse was claimed out of a race, it is typically is the horse’s position and the second smaller notated by a “z” or a “c” next to the condi- number is the distance behind the leader. Conditioning/Form tion; i.e. z-2000. A higher claiming price or Each call could also contain one or two tiny Is my horse showing signs of life? allowance for earnings in a horse’s last 4 or 5 circles (called outs) between the position and • A strong indicator of whether your horse starts indicates a higher quality race. the lengths. No circles mean that the horse is on the cusp of a peak performance can • Two lesser-used conditions include was racing along the pylons or rail (inside), be his final-quarter finish time. The time “ABC” and Trackmaster Ratings. With one circle indicates the horse was in the is displayed in seconds and fifths. Horses ABC, the Racing Secretary (person in two path - the path directly to the outside which are rounding into top form often charge of putting together the races each of the horse on the rail - and two means the show a strong or improving final-quarter day) chooses a class (A for best, C or lower horse was racing in the three path. When time as they approach their peak levels. for worst) and creates races based on those an “x” appears in the past performance At larger one mile tracks like the Meadow- classifications. With the Trackmaster lines it means the horse made a break. An lands, a 27-second or faster final quarter is system, horses receive a number based on “ix” means the horse made a break due to considered a good indicator for a pacer and their performance in previous races and interference. A break means that the horse 28 seconds or better for a trotter. At smaller are classified off that number. did not adhere to rules that require them to half-mile tracks like Yonkers Raceway, we maintain a proper stride (or gait). Trotters would use 28 seconds or faster for pacers 2) How has my horse been racing? must trot the entire mile (right legs stride and 29 seconds or faster for trotter. • Past performance lines are a written towards each other while left legs stride • Another way to understand how a horse picture of each horses’ racing style and how away, and vice-versa) and pacers must pace raced in his previous outings is the “short they performed in their most recent races. the entire mile (right legs stride forwards or performance comment” on past perfor- During mile races (99% of all races in North while left legs stride backwards in unison). mance lines. While many programs will America) a horse’s position is recorded • Now that you know how to interpret contain a comment, only DRF Harness Eye at five points in time (calls) during each each horses’ previous races, here are a few has “free-form” descriptions to accurately race. These numbers, outlined in blue in hints for wagering. If many of the horses describe the trip a horse had, trouble he our sample horse Greenshoe, follow each consistently go to the front early (called might have encountered or his general horses’ post-position for the races on the leaving and denoted by a 1 or 2 at the first appearance during most efforts. These past performance lines. The first call is the call) in a race, look for horses which tend short comments are like a one-stop clue horses’ position at the quarter mile mark of to wait early and finish strong. If only one into what happened to the horse during the race, the second is the half-mile marker, horse usually leaves, then he or she might each race. A comment like “coasting” tells the third is the three-quarter mile marker, be able to lead at every call. Horses which you that the horse was an easy winner and the fourth is the stretch (this point can be at have two “outs” at the half or three-quarter could be in peak form. Something like “dug the top of the stretch on a half-mile track or call will most likely have used too much in, held” describes a horse that might have midway down the stretch on a mile track), energy early in the race and have nothing had to work harder to win. If you do not have and the fifth is the finish position. left for the stretch. These horses are consid- the time to examine the past performances, • Most calls will list two numbers, the first ered to have had “bad trips” and might have the short comments could be your ticket. WWW.DRF.COM DAILY RACING FORM Saturday, October 26, 2019 PAGE 7
STEP SIX WEDNESDAY There was a time when you had to go to the track every night to gain a strategic advan- FEATURED TRACKS tage. But the explosion of social media, tech- DELAWARE FAIR POST TIME 11:00 AM VOLUME 16 NUMBER 260 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2019 $8.00 PAGE 4 nology and off-track wagering has changed Horse quality/Class PHILADELPHIA POST TIME 12:25 PM WATCH AND WAGER ON LIVE HARNESS RACING PAGE 25 the landscape. NORTHFIELD Just what has my horse done in his POST TIME 6:00 PM • While there is no beating the experience PAGE 38 READY. SET. BET. HOOSIER career? POST TIME 6:30 PM of standing along the rail and rooting home PAGE 53 SARATOGA • The upper right-hand corner of every POST TIME 12:00 PM your horse at your local racetrack, virtu- PAGE 65 DEPOSIT $150 horses’ past performances is set aside to MONTICELLO ally every state and province now permits POST TIME 12:50 PM PAGE 76 BET provide you with a complete summary of WITH $300 off-track or online wagering. You can sit the how the horse has done for his career down at your desk or pick up your phone as well as the an in-depth listing of his The only place to earn weekly cashback and wager on tracks across the world. and free DRF Past Performances Make fafast deposits and record over the last two years (go back and easyeasy withdrawals • With the explosion of online wagering, check our sample Greenshoe’s magenta- LeLegal,gal, ssafe and secure the ability to watch races has increased colored area). This space will list a horse’s JOINJOI NOW dramatically. Anyone can go back and watch DRF.COM/BETDRF record (starts-wins-seconds-thirds) for the replays of past races to gain insight into how two most recent years and over its career a horse performed in recent starts. This is a DRF BETS IS THE OFFICIAL BETTING SITE OF DAILY RACRACING FORM – THE MOST TRUSTED SOURCE IN HORSE RACING Offer expires November 15, 2019. $$150150 deposit match bonubonuss promotion applies to new DRF Bets members only. Must be 18 or older (21 as well as earnings for each year and for iinn AL, AZ, IA, IN, KS, NH, ND, WA) to open an account with DRDRFF Bets and reside in a state where such activity is legal. Void where prohibited. vital step to success as the past performance Always wager responsibly. If you think you might have a problem, please contact the National Gambling Helpline (800) 522-4700. its career. Also displayed is a horse’s fast- lines in the program only tell part of the est win time in each of the two years listed story. and for his/her career, with the name of the are best used when horses are facing easier • Social media has added a new flavor to track at which the horse recorded this time competition. A horse that is “dropping in the sport as trainers and drivers have taken on the same line class” can often improve when facing a to Twitter to provide a run-down of their • A horse’s record can be very helpful in softer group. horses racing on any given day. This can be deciding which is the “classiest” horse in valuable information depending on who is the race. Compare your horse to the others doing the touting. If you keep track of what in the race. Does your horse win more often STEP SEVEN people say it may lead to future clues as to than the others in the race? Are his career who gives out the best information. and yearly earnings far superior to his • Twenty years ago you needed to competitors? Answering these questions Technology purchase your local paper to find out more could help you pick the winner. The sport of harness racing has changed Helpful Hint: Yearly and career earnings dramatically over the last two decades. Continued on page 8
PAGE 8 Saturday, October 26, 2019 DAILY RACING FORM WWW.DRF.COM
Continued from page 7 information about racing. With a simple tap of your finger you can now find out the latest information on stakes races, read features about the industry, and even get free handicapping information and selec- tions. DRF Harness provides free daily selections and analysis from a number of tracks each week at drf.com/harness.
Derick Giwner STEP EIGHT The track toteboard provides valuable information on odds, payouts and more. race, the 1,3 or 4 must win the second leg, STEP NINE the 1 or 2 must win leg three, and the 7 or 8 Pools and Odds must win the final race. This would cost $12 Horse racing involves pari-mutuel (1 x 3 x 2 x 2) for a $1 wager. wagering. That means you are playing Wagering basics & more • As in Thoroughbred wagering, many against other people who are wagering on There are many types of wagers available Harness tracks offer guaranteed pools. the races. All the money wagered on each in today’s game. They range from selecting This means that the track is promising that individual bet – minus takeout (a tax on the one horse to as many as five in a given race the total in the pool will reach a specific wagers) – is placed into a pool and divvied or betting one race to as many as every race amount. The United States Trotting Asso- up to people who select the correct horses on a card. ciation has a Strategic Wagering initiative at the finish. • WIN / PLACE / SHOW – Win means you that works with tracks to post guarantees. • Understanding the concept of odds is a are betting the horse to finish first. Place • When no bettors correctly select a key to wagering, but it is not as difficult as means you are hoping the horse will finish winning combination, often that will result it seems. Each horse is assigned a return first or second. Show means that your horse in a carryover pool. This takes a large on investment determined by the amount must finish in the top three. Since it is portion of the pool and pays it in the next of money wagered on each entrant in the harder to win, that generally pays the most, like wagering opportunity. For example: race. The odds range from 1-9 to 999-1 followed by place and show in that order. If no one correctly selected the winners in and payouts on simple wagers, like WIN, • EXACTA, TRIFECTA, SUPERFECTA, the Pick 4, the money would be “carried PLACE and SHOW, are based on a $2 mini- HI-5 – An exacta (or perfecta) bet requires over” to the next Pick 4 wager offered by mum. Odds of 4-1 (payout of $10.00 to $10.80) selecting the first and second place finish- the track. This is sort of like the lottery mean that for every $2 you wager, you will ers in a single race. A trifecta (also triple or available in most states. If no one has the profit $8.00 to $8.80. In simpler terms, use triactor) requires selecting the first three winning ticket, consolations are paid and XX-YY to represent random odds. For every in order. A superfecta requires selecting the majority of the money is paid on the YY you wager, you will get XX. the first four horses in order. A Hi-5 wager, next drawing if someone hits. • Takeout is an often overlooked but of course, requires the person wagering to Helpful Hint: If a pool doesn’t reach a extremely important part of the wagering select the first five finishers in order. There listed guaranteed amount that creates equation. Similar to the vig on a sports bet, are two types of Hi-5 wagers. The first value for players because the track will tracks keep a percentage of each wager. would distribute the pool to all bettors who have to add the extra money into the pool This can range from a low 10 percent to a correctly select the top five finishers. The out of their pockets. high of 35 percent. If you place a $10 wager second, called a Jackpot Hi-5, only pays the at a track with a 10 percent rate, $9 will entire pool if ONE person correctly selects remain in the pool to be distributed to all five finishers. Otherwise a consolation is STEP TEN the winners. That same $10 bet at a track paid out to all of the “winners” and the pool with a 35 percent takeout will leave $6.50 is carried over to the next day. in the pool. You wouldn’t go to Target and • DOUBLE, PICK X – The double requires Money Management and patience purchase a TV for $1,000 that you could get a person to correctly select the winner of You can be an expert handicapper, but if at Discount Joe’s for $750, so finding a track two consecutive races. Expanding beyond you don’t know how to manage your bank- with the best rates can be beneficial. two races, tracks also offer Pick 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, roll and pick your spots, all is lost. Below • Watching the pattern of betting can 8, 9 wagers. These extend the theory behind are a couple of tips. often provide clues to how a race will the double to even more races. • You don’t need to play every race. Pick unfold. Some keys to look for are horses • With the exception of win/place/show, your best bets on the card and try to avoid that are bet heavily early or late in the all of the other bets are called exotic wagers. playing the rest of the races. If you must wagering. A horse at lower than expected You do not need to bet one single combina- play every race, set aside 20% of your bank- odds early in the wagering could represent tion. These bets are typically placed in roll for these “fun” bets and 80% for the a “wise-guy” horse that had a troubled multiples. This is where it becomes a bit serious wagers. trip recently. Similarly, a horse with odds more complex, but here are two examples: • Similar to the stock market, it is best to that drop significantly late in the wager- TRIFECTA: 1 with 2,3,4 with 2,3,4,5,6,7 diversify. If you like a horse, bet to win but ing could be due to smart bettors, or even PICK 4: 1 with 1,3,4 with 1,2 with 7,8 play exotics as well so you can maximize computer-based players which use algo- 1. In the trifecta example, you need your returns since bets like exactas and rithms, taking advantage of perceived the “1 horse” to win, any combination of pick 3s pay more than win bets. value. the 2,3,4 to finish second and any of the • Do not fall into the trap of betting multi- Helpful Hint: All tracks in the same state 2,3,4,5,6,7 to finish third. The cost of this ple combinations that could produce a loss are not created equal. Track A in New York wager for $1 would be $15 (1 x 3 x 5). of money. For example: Playing a $2 exacta may offer an 18 percent rate on takeout for 2. In the Pick 4 example, one of the of the 2-horse first with the 1, 4 and 5 in the WIN wagers while track B could offer 14 horses you have listed in each leg must win second slot ($6 total) makes little sense if percent. for you to cash. The 1 must win the first the 2-1 exacta is returning $5.60.
PAGE 10 Saturday, October 26, 2019 DAILY RACING FORM WWW.DRF.COM Harness insiders provide sage advice
GARNET DAVE JEREMEY DERICK BOB GREG MATT DARIN BARNSDALE BROWER DAY GIWNER PANDOLFO REINHART ROSE ZOCCALI
1) What is one piece of handicapping friends who know a bit about racing and Matt Rose advice you would give to a person who is can help explain what is encapsulated A win bet is the simplest and doesn’t need walking into a Harness track or looking within the past performances of a racing any explanation, but if their selection was a to make a bet for the first time? program. My suggestion would be to keep heavy favorite I would let them know so they it simple. Once you learn a bit about it, use aren’t disappointed at the small payout. Garnet Barnsdale three factors to begin handicapping: class, Figure out quickly the mathematics of form and time. These are probably three of Darin Zoccali winning. Learn what “takeout” is and avoid the easier traits to identify when looking at Again, keep it simple. This isn’t a time to playing high takeout bets. Avoid “play it a program. try and hit a Pick 5. I would suggest beginning safe” wagers like Win, Place or straight with a win or win and place bet. From there, show betting. You can make money at this, 2) What wager type would you suggest exactas and daily doubles. My rationale for but there is a very small margin of error to this newbie? Why? this is two-fold. First, it’s easy for the player and you need to understand the math first. to determine if he has won. Second, it is far Garnet Barnsdale easier to simply pick a horse to finish first or Dave Brower I would steer them toward whatever second then crazy exotic combinations. Thus, BUY the official program so you know the wager offers the lowest takeout (especially the individual may cash more tickets, have a names of the horses, their betting numbers, non-jackpot carryovers) and explain why it better experience and want to come back. the driver, trainer and owners. It is an is critical to turning long-term profits. Then invaluable booklet of information, even if I’d help them handicap the ticket. 3) What do you feel is the most impor- you need to keep it simple. tant aspect of harness handicapping? Dave Brower Speed? Trip? Human connections? Jeremey Day I would simply suggest a straight across- Look for horses with good last quarters. the-board bet. $2 to win, place and show. So, Garnet Barnsdale Don’t bet place or show. that if your pick finishes first, second, or I’m going to go off the board here and go Derick Giwner third, you get to cash a ticket! There is noth- with “change”. My first step handicapping ing quite like cashing a ticket for the first every race is to look for change: Post position Take it all in for the first few races. You time, whether you make a lot of money or a changes, up or down in class, barn change, can learn a lot just by watching. Just like little. driver change, equipment change, change in any other sport, Harness Racing has streaks a horse’s perceived fitness, change in track, and horses trained by the same person or Jeremey Day etc. It’s so easy if you aren’t meticulous to driven by the same person could often be I would recommend exactas and trifectas miss one of these and cost yourself a big score good plays. so they would have a better chance of catch- by not including a horse on a ticket. Bob Pandolfo ing a decent payout. Dave Brower Stick to the dominant drivers, best post Derick Giwner To me, the most important aspects are the positions, and avoid horses that are not I’m a big proponent of the three-horse class level and the trainer. There is no more likely to be able to get the lead during the exacta box for new players. Boxing three potent angle than when a horse is dropping in opening half. Do not bet any post position horses in one race costs just $6 for a $1 class, especially if they are conditioned by a that is winning at less than 10%. This infor- base play and gives you the opportunity to good trainer. Good trainers win races. Simple mation is available in the track program. win good money. Plus it is easy to explain as that. Greg Reinhart to someone that they need two of the three horses they selected to finish first and Jeremey Day Do your research. There are many great second. It depends on what type of race it is. Just handicapping books and websites that will answering that specific question without guide you as you’re getting involved and Bob Pandolfo knowing what type of race it is, I would trying to learn the game. Also don’t be Exacta keys: Once you’ve handicapped answer watching the same horses for two or afraid to ask questions on social media or to and found a horse you like, use that horse as three starts closely. people at the track. a key in exacta boxes with two or three other Derick Giwner Matt Rose horses. Exacta pools are big and exactas aren’t as difficult to hit as Pick 4’s and Pick Outside of the horse, no factor means more Don’t be overwhelmed by all the infor- 5’s, which are for more advanced players. in our sport than the trainer. A top trainer mation . . . keep it simple at first until you can move a horse up to a new level. are more comfortable. Remember, I’m Greg Reinhart the expert and will lose and you will have For the new bettor, I don’t think there’s Bob Pandolfo beginner’s luck. anything wrong with a good, old-fashioned They’re all important but most races are Darin Zoccali show wager. Your horse only has to finish won by one of the fastest horses in the race. If in the top three, and if you get some money all of the horses appear to be about the same For your first racetrack experience, I back in your pocket, it feels good and makes speed, it may be best to pass that race. would suggest attending the races with you want to come back and try again. WWW.DRF.COM DAILY RACING FORM Saturday, October 26, 2019 PAGE 11
Greg Reinhart Garnet Barnsdale handicapping thoroughbreds, but try to focus Human connections and form. If a horse is If you are aiming to be a serious player, mainly on horses that figure to leave the racing well, I won’t shy away from backing it stick to one or two tracks, educate yourself on gate. And, read my book, Trotpicks: Modern as it goes up the class ladder. And it’s a train- who the top human connections are and how Harness Handicapping. er’s game right now, if a horse has a signifi- they operate, and make sure you are watch- cant upgrade (or downgrade) on that side, you ing live races and/or replays and making Greg Reinhart have to give it a second look. written or mental notes for future use. Form is form, speed is speed, and ground loss or gain is ground loss or gain, no matter Matt Rose Dave Brower the breed. I don’t really feel the differences Speed on smaller tracks, trip on larger Do not try to use thoroughbred handi- are that significant; if you can handicap one, tracks. It’s very enticing to lean in the direc- capping angles for harness racing. It’s a you can handicap the other, I’ve found. tion of a horse with a lot of 1’s in the program. completely different game. Use the official program, which hopefully contains some Matt Rose Darin Zoccali analysis from an expert to guide you in the All of the wagering principles are basically I used to think it was speed. Now, seem- right direction. It’s just a start, but will give identical and it’s still a horse race. Someone ingly every horse can go to The Meadowlands you things to look for when you start to do has to win. Also get out from behind that and pace in 1:50 or trot in 1:52-1:53. Fifteen your own handicapping. computer and go experience how close-up years ago it wasn’t like that. It was easier to and easier it is to follow Harness Racing live. spot horses who simply weren’t fast enough. Jeremey Day Now, I think there are two important factors. Watch as many replays as you can for the Darin Zoccali First, handicapping the trip a horse may get. card you want to handicap and learn which My first piece of advice would be to begin Since so many horses can pace fast enough drivers put themselves in good position at The Meadowlands. The pools and race- to win a race, the trip they work out is often consistently. flow are such that they provide the closest the deciding factor in their result. Second is experience to that of betting on a thorough- the human connections behind the horse. Derick Giwner bred race. It’s a mile track, there are often 10 Specifically, certain barn changes almost Especially on smaller tracks, Harness horses and while important, speed is not as completely nullify what the horse’s recent Racing is much more trip-oriented. If you can dominant as it is on half-mile tracks. From form may be. We have seen that prove true figure out where the horses will be midway there I would suggest working through other often in recent years. through the race (it’s not as difficult as it tracks as he or she sees fit and while harness seems), you’ll be ahead of most players. racing is a different game, I would advise that they not abandon their handicapping strat- 4) If a Thoroughbred player wanted to Bob Pandolfo try Harness Racing, what advice would egy, but learn how to apply it best to harness Use the same principles you do when you provide? racing over time.
Get rolling on harness racing at PennHorseRacing.com. PAGE 12 Saturday, October 26, 2019 DAILY RACING FORM WWW.DRF.COM Thoroughbred players agree, Harness is a viable option By Derick Giwner nities rather than a specific track. “I “I’m a big believer in barn changes check which tracks have the best carry- and driver changes,” said Weaver when There is no arguing that Thorough- overs or what I’m familiar with, but I’ll it comes to Harness. “Not that one bred handle dwarfs that of Harness play any track. I actually prefer playing driver or trainer is better than another, Racing. While for 2018 the Sport of Thoroughbreds because since I don’t but sometimes things get stagnant and Kings led by nearly a 9 to 1 margin in own any I’m not forced to bet only my horses just need a different set of hands. U.S. handle, Standardbred Racing still own horses.” There are all kinds of different things, accounted for a strong $1.37 billion in Grubbs agreed that the opportunity so it is hard to narrow it down. money wagered for the year. for the big score is much greater with “In Thoroughbreds it is more about The wagering pools may be smaller in Thoroughbreds but consistent success the pace play. I look for horses that can Harness, but according to many large really helps the bottom line. get loose on the lead and get brave. I also players, the opportunities to consis- “I like to play the big tournaments look for horses that have shown speed tently win are most certainly greater in Thoroughbreds. I look at them as a going two turns and shorten up to a one- when compared to Thoroughbred shot to win $100,000 in one day. When I turn sprint. I like that angle. Every race Racing. play a Harness track, I’m looking to win is its own challenge.” “There’s a lot of money to be made,” $1,000 or $2,000 a day. It is a grind,” said Both Weaver and Grubbs felt strongly said 2018 Breeders’ Cup Betting Chal- Grubbs. “You can make a way bigger that there was no reason for a divide lenge winner Chuck Grubbs, who score in Thoroughbreds than you can on between the two breeds. The key to focuses most of his attention on betting Harness. I prefer Harness because even success is doing the homework. Harness. though the pools are a lot smaller, it is “There are a lot of similarities and a Grubbs is a regular player at North- the same horses racing week after week. lot of differences, but given a couple of field, The Meadows, Meadowlands and In Thoroughbred, if I see one that gets weeks most would be able to pick up on Mohawk Park as well as Keeneland, cut-off or run into, I may have to wait six it,” said Weaver on Thoroughbred play- Santa Anita and Churchill on the Thor- or eight weeks or even six months, you ers trying Harness. “If you put your time oughbred side. While people may be never know when they will race again. If in and study it, you can figure it out. It is surprised to see smaller-sized tracks a Harness horse gets run into or gets in an easy game to fall in love with. like Northfield and The Meadows on his trouble. I know in seven days I can play “I grew up watching all three, list of go-to tracks because handle tends that horse again.” Harness, Thoroughbred and Quarter to be lower on half-mile and five-eighths When attacking races the races, Horse at Los Alamitos. To me Harness surfaces, Grubbs cited consistency as a Grubbs stressed the importance of is the most strategic. I love it. I think main reason. watching race replays. Before the people are missing the boat because it “Both of those tracks race year- upcoming Breeders’ Cup in Califor- is a great sport and great sport to be an round. You see the same horses, drivers nia, he’ll put in 20-24 hours just watch- owner in; it could be very profitable.” and trainers each week, so you pick up ing races. With a track like Northfield, “The thing about Harness Racing, their habits,” said Grubbs. “I definitely which is his bread-and-butter wager- and this goes for Thoroughbreds too, would say Northfield is my number one ing location, despite seeing most races there are a lot of lazy people,” said handle. I love to bet Northfield.” live, he’ll spend an hour or two each day Grubbs. “Instead of going to the track Mark Weaver, a prominent owner in reviewing the action. and buying the program to handicap. Harness Racing, also enjoys playing “Harness and Thoroughbred is no Buy your track the night before and both Thoroughbreds and Harness on a different for me when it comes to handi- while you are lying in bed winding regular basis. While not a professional capping – it’s replays,” said Grubbs. “If down, study the program. If you just per se like Grubbs, who admits betting a guy goes to the races and loses all the show up at the track and don’t put in on racing is the only job he has had since time, it is because he is not putting the any work, you are going to be throwing he was 16, Weaver puts a substantial time and effort in. If you sit in front of away your money.” amount of money through the windows a computer and watch a replay of the Harness Racing may lack the glam- on both breeds. horses’ last two or three races, you will our of its Thoroughbred counterpart, “I think probably the opportunity come to a conclusion on what type of which has the Kentucky Derby and to make money is easier in Harness form the horse is in.” Breeders Cup on national television and Racing, but to make a lot of money it Of course there are many available in the public’s eye, but there are many is not comparable, you have to go with angles for coming up with top selections advantages to crossing over and testing Thoroughbreds,” said Weaver, who and Weaver mapped out some of his the waters. As the saying goes, “Try it, tends to gravitate to the best opportu- favorites for each breed. you’ll like it.”
DRF.COM/HE Celebrating Harness Racing’s Greatest Events
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