Monthly Archives: November 2009

Update on Novak

In response to the commenter who inquired about which writing award Claire Novak had won: In 2008, she won an award from the Louisville chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The award, for sports writing in the magazine division, … Continue reading

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The conversation continues…

On the Belmont backstretch on Monday morning, a blissful unawareness of the calendar might have led one to think that it was spring. Trainers, exercise riders, spectators—all gradually shed layers as the sun rose higher. “It’s HOT!” was overheard more … Continue reading

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How the dirt horses did

A brief look at how the dirt horses did over the weekend. Given the number of variables at play, it would be folly to try to draw definitive conclusions from these results; race records of individual horses on the various … Continue reading

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The Backstretch Method: Saturday picks

The Backstretch method did better than it could have hoped yesterday, cashing on the exacta and winner in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Let’s see how it works today. Juvenile Turf: Kera’s Kitten is out in favor of Becky’s Kitten (poor … Continue reading

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Breeders’ Cup Friday: good news, bad news

Game over, Breeders’ Cup Day 1. I left school at the earliest possible moment and managed to get home in time to see all of the filly/mare races, to place wagers, and to end up in the black for about … Continue reading

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Brian’s Breeder’s Cup Preview: the Saturday races

Race 2: The Grade II, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at 1-mile. POUNCED drew well and enters off a second to the accomplished Siyouni in a classy European Group I on the Arc undercard; tepid choice in a race … Continue reading

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Handicapping the Backstretch way

Even the most cursory of looks at racing newspapers, websites, and magazines yields a plethora of handicapping strategies. Beyer guys, Sheets disciples, avowed trip handicappers—everyone’s got an angle, out there for the taking. I attended and bet on races for … Continue reading

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Claire Novak’s Sexy Jockeys

According to Claire Novak, Mike Smith is the sexiest jockey riding in the Breeders’ Cup. How do we know this? Because at ESPN.com, Novak, encouraged by Horseplayerpro.com’s Joe Kristufek and with input from other racing media (both male and female), … Continue reading

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Brian’s Breeders’ Cup preview: the Friday races

OK, it’s Breeders’ Cup, so let’s have a little fun while expanding the bankroll just a little bit. After all, if you can’t do it these two days then you never can. I’ll give selections (gulp) and notes for each … Continue reading

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Drugs and soda and kisses and contamination

The issues of drugs in racing was back in the news recently, as the New York Racing Association banned Jeff Mullins and his horses from its tracks for six months, following Mullins’s attempt in the detention barn at Aqueduct to … Continue reading

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