Data, data, data, yada, yada, yada

Say you're a guy who grew up around horse racing. Your dad took you to the track when you were young, slowly but surely explaining the ins and outs of not only the sport, but how to handicap a race. By the time you were old enough to place a wager, you knew exactly what to say and in what order when you arrived at the teller's window. Gradually,…

Nearly four years after the horse doping indictments - and nearly three decades after I started covering the sport - shockingly little has changed to improve harness racing. by Dave Briggs Close to 30 years after I started covering harness racing, I don't love it any less. But I am growing tired - tired of seeing something I love continue to…

AI could lure away gamblers with virtual horse racing. by Trey Nosrac Hot wars in the Middle East, artificial intelligence trolls taking over our brains, tribalism, political gridlock, immigration, global warming, and my front right tire keeps losing air. If the world does not have enough problems, consider one you may not have heard about. Imagine…

When you play our game, losing is part of the equation. We all have a long list of harness-racing heartbreaks and bad breaks. Do you remember the massive Pick-5 wager that you missed by a photo finish, the wonder horse you owned that bowed a tendon, the time you drew outside posts in five major races in a row, the time you were the underbidder on a…

Of each dollar paid in Ohio purses last season, only 15.2 cents of it came from pari-mutuel play. The rest came from racinos, which creates an untenable long-term situation for Ohio horse racing. by Bob Roberts What you are about to read is a scenario that the participants - bettors, the backstretch bunch, breeders, suppliers, and just plain old…

AI may be scarier than the headless horseman. by Trey Nosrac (Warning!!!!!!! The following content is upsetting. Read with caution) Harness horse racing is an equestrian sport that has enthralled spectators and participants alike for centuries. It is a harmonious blend of man, machine, and beast that offers an unmatched spectacle of speed,…

Gambling has played a part in human culture for centuries. From card games to sports betting, the allure of chance and the potential for profit have consistently drawn people to place wagers. In this article, we'll delve into the world of gambling statistics, and more specifically, explore the fascinating realm of horse betting statistics to…

Putting together markets that challenge the long-term gambler and tell long stories is a market where we can fit, promote and introduce new people. by Trey Nosrac On May 14, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States rendered a decision, known as PASPA, that opened the door to the sports betting industry. On the other side of that open door, the…

As we increasingly immerse ourselves in the digital age, the power of data to inform our decisions and shape our understanding has become apparent. For enthusiasts, bettors, and professionals in the horse racing industry, the potential of data analytics is exceptionally powerful. To make the most out of these resources, it's essential to know where…

Rarely does this column contain helpful advice for wagering. There are reasons for this lack of punting prognostication. I am pathetic at picking winning racehorses. Consider me sort of the anti-Pandy (Bob Pandolfo, handicapper extraordinaire). A psychological aversion to wagering on a harness racehorse that will go off at odds lower than 4-1 is…

Horse racing, a sport of tradition and excitement, has captivated audiences for centuries. The sport has a number of stakeholders, from trainers, owners and jockeys to racing associations and betting agencies. Horse betting has a rich history that spans centuries, but in recent years, the industry has been experiencing significant transformations.…

Horse racing is a beloved sport that has entertained fans for centuries, captivating audiences with its excitement, speed, and the sheer beauty of the horses themselves. However, the sport has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, thanks to the many technological advancements. From innovative materials and equipment designed to…

Woodbine Mohawk Park simulcast show welcomes a familiar face. by Melissa Keith The Woodbine Mohawk Park (WMP) 2023 International Women's Day simulcast was a harbinger of good things to come, especially for one woman with deep roots in Ontario harness racing. On March 9, Elissa Blowe co-hosted the special show alongside regular WMP racing…

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - Any naysayer talk of harness racing's demise has been reduced to a barely audible whisper these days, as the sport has seen a solid increase in business during the first quarter of 2023, with betting at The Meadowlands leading the charge. During the first three months of 2023, there were 26 programs contested at The Big M…

Harness racing needs to adapt to the new world of sports betting by Trey Nosrac No matter how hard you squint, this real-life report can't be good. A flood of legal sports gambling is cascading across the land. Most of us hope that the new gambling wave will not be terrible for harness racing and these invaders will all disappear. Every day since…

Handicappers at the horse track all hold their own theories and conjectures about who will win the next race, mining programs for split times and race histories, bloodlines and surfaces. On any given day, the rail may be golden or dead. And then there are questions about how much impact the jockey has. Joe Appelbaum played college football at Yale…

The Albion Park Harness Racing Club will turn red after signing a ground-breaking four-year major sponsorship agreement with global wagering giant Ladbrokes. The new agreement, which will take effect from today (Dec. 2) is the largest sponsorship deal in the history of The Creek, which dates back to 1968. It will also see Ladbrokes, which is part…

Online wagering products and services supplier BetMakers Technology Group announced Monday it has entered into an agreement to acquire Punting Form, a horse racing intelligence and rating systems provider. Punting Form uses proprietary IP and AI to create sectional times and benchmarks for horse racing, which are used for time-based ratings…

Standardbred Horse Sales Company tops $44 million in gross at its yearling sale for the first time. by Ray Cotolo In the climb back from economic recession spurred by the pandemic shutdown, the Standardbred Horse Sales Company in Harrisburg saw a stabilization of growth in 2022 which propelled the yearling portion of the sale to an all-time…

Few sports are as ubiquitous as tennis. Next week alone, the ATP Tour's main tournament is in Milan, the WTA's featured tournament is in Fort Worth and the lower-rung men's Challenger Tour has events in France, Slovakia, Calgary and Knoxville. Is that all? Capitalizing on the 24/7 global nature of the sport, IMG Arena is collaborating with Tennis…

Dr Howard Perlmutter is a dentist by profession. By avocation, he is a horse owner and one the most fervent and knowledgeable fans of harness racing. He began getting interested in harness racing in his mid-to-late teens. At the time, he had no knowledge of horse racing, let alone harness racing. He was interested in just about all sports with the…

The New York Racing Association has been banning computer assisted wagering near post time and fixed odds are beginning to be examined, but a path forward remains elusive. by Dean Towers Back in 1975 at Roosevelt Raceway, a racing patron waited patiently in line for his or her turn to bet. Their horse was a 5-2 shot, they got their bet down, and…