JC / Railbird - Miscellany

Miscellany Archive

Summer Vacation

I am off to Cape Cod for the week, trading in trips to the track for trips to the beach. Posting will resume on Saturday, or 25 days to Saratoga, as I’m thinking of it.
—
One last Suffolk Downs note for the week: Reynaldo Abreu, the former Nick Zito assistant who was hired as the private trainer for the Marylou Whitney Stables in May, earned his first win today in race five at Suffolk Downs, a maiden special weight. Abreu ran Caged Glory, a three-year-old filly making her fifth start. She won easily by more than 13 lengths, with jockey Winston Thompson sitting almost motionless throughout the race, except for a quick look back at the rapidly fading competition in the stretch.

Posted in Miscellany on June 27, 2005

Headlines: June 18

– Churchill Downs has suspended and fined three jockeys for wearing unapproved ads during the Kentucky Derby. Jeremy Rose, Corey Nakatani, and Kent Desormeaux have each been suspended seven days and fined $5,000 for the infraction. The ruling has been appealed, which means the jockeys may continue to ride pending the outcome. (Inq.)
– NYRA is considering raising admission prices at Saratoga for Travers Day. Gate prices on August 27 could rise to $10 for general admission and $20 for the clubhouse. (TU)
– The California legislature is considering a bill that would require CHRB to write regulations pertaining to conflicts of interest among its members. An earlier version of the bill tried to bar CHRB members from having any financial interest in racing. (TT)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com

Posted in Miscellany on June 18, 2005

One Year On …

Today marks the first anniversary of Railbird, which started with this post:

If only I’d had Brad Free’s excellent “Handicapping 101” (DRF Press) when I started trying to learn this game. The chapter on form alone elicited many, many aha! moments. My only quibble (and it’s one I have with almost all handicapping books) is with his disdain for place and show betting. “Wagering to place and show is futile,” Free writes. Oh, but such bets can be part of a sound wagering strategy. When judiciously made, they can pay off quite nicely. Example: In race two at Suffolk Downs on June 15, the favorite, Brickaback, was at 1-1 on the board, despite his listless appearance in the paddock. But Got a Ticket looked lively and had odds of 18-1. A quick perusal of his past performances showed there was no way he would win, and he wasn’t a too likely second, but he was a very reasonable third, which is exactly what he ran, paying a lovely $17.80 — making a show bet in this race a better investment than a win bet on the second favorite, Metfleet, who returned a mere $8.80.

Related: Steven Crist explains why a place bet on Smarty Jones in the Belmont would have made sense (Daily Racing Form).

I’m a little embarrassed. Juvenilia, you know.
Thanks to everyone for visiting, and a special thank you to those who have taken time to send stories, photos, links, compliments, and suggestions. I can’t tell you how much fun I’ve had hearing from so many other racing fans. This has been a great year, and I’m looking forward to celebrating a second anniversary.

Posted in Miscellany on June 17, 2005

← Before After →

← Home