Horseplayers Association of North America

Horseplayers takes center stage

2012-01-27T12:53:00.003-05:00

Article by Claire Novak for ESPN: http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/7502821/horseplayers-takes-center-stage "All of us horse players are a little bit biased, but we don't feel we get attention we should, and we feel we're the lifeblood of the industry," she said. "I think that sometimes if the people who have won this competition were to be profiled, readers would have a completely

Three New HANA Members Join Board, Willing to Work For Horseplayers

2012-01-23T14:52:00.004-05:00

Over the past nine months the Horseplayers Association of North America has been searching for passionate horseplayers to join the Board of Directors. Through member emailings, newsletters, social media, a nominating committee and our website, three candidates emerged with a racing background, who were willing to do the work that’s needed to help change our sport for the better. Please welcome

Weekend Handicapping: A Sweet Chant for Ready Signal at Gulfstream today

2012-01-22T09:48:00.000-05:00

The Lecomte turned out to be what the form should us it would be, wide open. It was a tough race to handicap due to all the angles that each horse brought into the race. Mr. Bowling, our second selection, probably exhibited the most. Coming in off a layoff, key race factor, good trainer in Graded Stakes and a jockey switch. If you added up all the angles for each horse, I have a feeling Mr.

Weekend Handicapping: A Terrors Hammer nails the Lecomte at FG today

2012-01-21T08:49:00.000-05:00

Our streak was finally broken last Sunday when Private Jet won his first time start in the US. The racing gods got even with me, on Saturday I extol the virtues of a first time European starter in Mutual Trust and then on Sunday ignore Private Jet. The truth is I don’t know much about South African horses or tracks and his results didn’t look nearly as good at Mutual Trust. A lesson learned?

Weekend Handicapping: Little Nick and Great Attack fight it out at GP today

2012-01-15T08:42:00.000-05:00

Yesterday in the Fort Lauderdale I had expected the crowd to wager Silver Medallion to a favorite. Was I wrong as the herd went with Mutual Trust as I did. I had the 4YO colt as the dark horse selection, and after some hard knocking down the stretch he prevailed and paid a nice $9.80 to win. He did a great job against older horses and has to say “job well done.” Today we will stay at

Weekend Handicapping: Is GP Teaks North new best friend?

2012-01-14T09:12:00.000-05:00

We got off to a great start last weekend, capped off by R Holiday Mood winning in a dead heat and paying $12.40. I watched that race and she made a nice run down the rail, thought for sure she had it all to herself, but like many of my selections, they seem to get nailed at the wire. No complaints with a DH win and a handsome payday. Today we will stay at Gulfstream and look at the Fort

Italian Racing "Effectively Bankrupt"

2012-01-09T13:49:00.001-05:00

The Guardian Newspaper, January 8, 2012: "The future of horse racing in Italy appears to hang in the balance as protesters are set to target the government in Rome this week in an attempt to secure increased funding for the sport. "The betting model, through which money comes back to racing, is broken, and it is effectively bankrupt. As it stands, every race that is run is being run at a

Weekend Handicapping: Holiday Mood for the Ocala today at GP

2012-01-08T10:05:00.000-05:00

Captivating Lass started the weekend off on a good note. She had an excellent race and Luzzi rode her perfectly taking the win and paying a nice $5.80 on a $2 ticket. Today we head down to Gulfstream and take a look at a minor stakes race for state bred fillies and mares, 4YO. It’ll be the 10th race on the card, the 6th running of the Ocala for a purse of $60,000. Seven girls have entered for

Weekend Handicapping: It will be a Captivating Lass today at Aqueduct

2012-01-07T08:53:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we didn’t fare too badly. We had our soft “Bombs Away”, Apriority win and pay a nice $7.20 and then on Sunday the 1st, CC’s Pal scored as we figured and paid $4.80. The nice result was in the Mr. Prospector with Zero Rate Policy finishing second. He had that race won but gave way at the last moment to Apriority. So today we stay at Aqueduct and will play a stakes race for 3YO

Weekend Handicapping: One Last Dance in the Ladies at Aqueduct

2012-01-01T09:14:00.000-05:00

Before we look at today’s race, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! We finished the year with our soft “Bombs Away” Apriority winning the Mr. Prospector and paid $7.20. I’m also pleased how well Zero Rate Policy ran, almost held on to win it. We will start the New Year off by heading up to Aqueduct and look at one of the oldest handicap races around. It’s the 141st running of the Ladies

Weekend Handicapping: No candy for the Candyman today at GP

2011-12-31T08:54:00.000-05:00

I hope all had a wonderful and fun filled holiday. Today is it, the last day of racing for 2011, and we are going to spend it at Gulfstream Park. It will be a nice sunny day for a competitive Grade 3 sprint, the Mr. Prospector for 3YO and upwards running for a purse of $100,000. A field of seven has entered and there is plenty of front end speed to contend with. After looking them over I can

Crist Adds His Name to the Chorus

2011-12-30T17:11:00.000-05:00

As you know, slots have entered various jurisdictions with almost all of the proceeds going to purses (and some capital improvements, mostly for horsepeople). This has not helped handles, as witnessed by the massive betting losses since slots have been introduced in the mid-1990's. Recently we highlighted several bettors and fans who have asked NYRA to use some of the slots money for customers,

A Tale of Two Cities

2011-12-28T21:17:00.005-05:00

"IT WAS the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going

Weekend Handicapping: Surprises galore in the Ginger Brew today at GP

2011-12-24T08:43:00.000-05:00

Before we dive into Weekend Handicapping, I would like to wish all the readers of the HANA blog site a Happy Holiday. I hope it’s a fun filled weekend of family and good times. One note, there is no racing tomorrow, so there will be no Weekend Handicapping. Now for Christmas Eve, there is only one stakes race on the calendar and it is at Gulfstream Park. It’s a turf race going a mile and a

Portland Meadows With a Sneaky Takeout..... Reduction?

2011-12-22T18:41:00.007-05:00

We caught a note today that Portland Meadows looks to be trying to emulate Tampa Bay Downs. The Florida track (with little fanfare up until two years ago) has been lowering takeout each year with some good results. Well, Portland Meadows has cut the takeout on two horse exotic wagers by 1% to 21% this year, and did it very quietly. Usually tracks try and sneak an increase on customers, not the

State: NYRA overcharged bettors by millions

2011-12-21T16:21:00.002-05:00

For almost a year some of you've asked why NYRA continued to take 26% in some exotic bets after September 15, 2010. Today we found out that they apparently weren't supposed to. The state Racing & Wagering Board voted unanimously on Wednesday to admonish the New York Racing Association for overcharging bettors millions of dollars over the past 15 months. The racing association was supposed

Weekend Handicapping: Big Beach day at Gulfstream, Finale.

2011-12-18T09:36:00.000-05:00

Our streak eked by with Cherokee Queen winning yesterday at the Fair Grounds. She ran an excellent race, and paid a nice ticket of $9.40. She was my third selection, but it seems whenever I call a horse “dangerous” they end up winning. A She’s Adorable would have been my play, she closed well and drew close but lagging the field isn’t her style and will wait for another day. So today we slip

Weekend Handicapping: Will She's Adorable be Blushing today?

2011-12-17T08:30:00.000-05:00

Two weeks into December and we have been on quite a roll here at Weekend Handicapping. Last weekend saw our top pick hit the wire on Saturday and then Sunday, our “Bombs Away” selection gave us our fist longshot winner of the year. For this weekend I thought we would venture over to the Fairgrounds and try our hand at a turf race going a mile and sixteenth. It’s the 4th running of the Blushing

Press, Bettors, Customers Turn Up the Heat on NYRA

2011-12-15T14:07:00.001-05:00

After well over a decade of empirical data regarding slots and handles (slot money up, while handles drop), people are speaking out. The racino at Aqueduct has been churning out some huge revenues, most of which will go into purses, just like it has in numerous jurisdictions around North America. Meanwhile, customers have never shared in the windfall and they continue to leave in droves. Some

$56 Newly Gelded Winner in California Prompts Potential Rule Changes

2011-12-15T09:59:00.000-05:00