| As summer racing in New York returns to Saratoga, it | | | | past handicappers and champions, but whatever the |
| is time to shift gears in our approach to handicapping. | | | | case may be, caution is needed when expectations of |
| One secret that I have learned about betting horse | | | | form are raised. Expect the unexpected, if you can |
| races at the "Spa" is that you have to look for high | | | | figure out how to do that. |
| odds to compensate for the lack of consistency. | | | | One thing that does hold up at Saratoga is the old |
| Like its West Coast counterpart, Del Mar, Saratoga | | | | maxim, "Horses for courses." Fourstardave was a |
| Race Track is difficult to figure out because of the | | | | prime example of that. He was nicknamed "The Sultan |
| many variables. For one thing, there are many shippers | | | | of Saratoga," because he won at least one race a |
| and many trainers. Horses coming from so many | | | | year there from 1987 to 1994. In fact there is now a |
| different tracks to compete at the legendary New | | | | graded stakes race there that bears his name. |
| York track can create nightmares for handicappers | | | | My advice, the secrets I would like to share with you |
| who are trying to compare the merits of each entry. | | | | are, demand a fair price and lay off favorites. Also, |
| Sometimes it just can't be done. This is why each | | | | look for jockeys and trainers who have fared well in |
| track has earned the nickname, "The graveyard of | | | | the past at that track. The same is true of horses who |
| favorites." | | | | have raced there before. Finally, wait a week or so |
| The horse that ships in with high speed figures may | | | | and see who is hot and who isn't. It seems that every |
| run like a classless old plug and another entry that | | | | year finds a new trainer or jockey that suddenly takes |
| looks like it will be lucky to make it around the oval | | | | off at the Spa. For that reason, I never bet a favorite |
| without oxygen can surprise and run like Seabiscuit. Is it | | | | during the first 10 days there and only bet them after |
| the climate or the surface? Maybe it's the ghosts of | | | | that if they have proven their mettle there before. |