I am sure that those who have heard of the news are in dismay over the turn of things.  However, think about the state of New South Wales which has to deal with an estimated $ 204.5 million loss.  According to the Thoroughbred Times “Major races affected are the Epsom Handicap (Aus-G1), Metropolitan Handicap (G1), and George Main Stakes (Aus-G1) and other group races that are pointers to either the Melbourne Spring Carnival or toward the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Royal Randwick Racecourse remains in stringent lockdown, but horses may exercise under strict protocols. Approximately 700 horses are stabled at the racecourse course and another 1,000 in adjacent private stables.

Racing New South Wales said Friday it hopes that racing can resume at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) day, November 6.”

At present, Australian horse owners and enthusiasts are finding ways to deal with the situation, including meetings wherein they can come up with solutions to support those who have been affected by this incident.

Meanwhile, in other parts of Australia, horse racing is being held intermittently.

The equine flu is a respiratory illness that makes the horses tired.  It is rarely fatal but is highly contagious.  Humans are safe from the virus but can be carriers (through their clothing).  Though the case of equine flu is not that bad at the moment, Australian authorities are not taking any risks.  The breeding season for horses is coming up next month and too much is at stake.  Soon after the breeding season, horse racing activities are set to reach frenzied heights with the Spring Carnival, including the Melbourne Cup.

According to the Racing Board of Australia, if the flu spreads, the horse racing industry could be shut down for months.  This, of course, is something that they are not looking forward to and as such they are doing everything they possibly could to prevent any outbreak.  So far, the equine flu has been reported only in Japan, which Australian officials say may be the source of their own occurrences.  This is because Japanese stallions regularly come into the country during the breeding season.  Their horses also race during the Spring Carnival.

As of yet, there is no clear decision on what will happen in the next month or so.

Another consideration would be the distance of the race.  Not all horses are the same – some run better for certain distances.  A race that is too short may not be enough for a horse to show its true form.  On the other hand, some horses cannot run the distance.  As such, you have to take into account the horse’s capability and the distance to be run.

Take into consideration what the “experts” say.  I know you are trying to come up with your own system and you may not want to rely on tipsters.  Yet the whole process of finding your own system would include paying attention to those who have experience.  I am not saying that you should merely listen to what they say.  My point is that if a lot of experts (say 60% - 80%) predict a certain horse winning, find out why.  Then take your cue from there.

First, be prepared to do research – a lot of research.  You would have to look into the horses running a certain race and find out as much as you can about them.  This information can be had for free – just look on the Internet.

Next, you should also look into other details such as the size of the field.  The more horses you have running the race, the lesser the chances of a single horse winning.  You should factor this into your system.

Another consideration would be the type of ground the race is going to be run on.  Each horse has its own strength when it comes to this.  You should know which horse runs best on soft or firm ground and adjust your system accordingly.

When picking the horse to place your bet on, make sure that it is in top form.  A horse that ran its last race a season or two ago would make for poor betting.  According to some experts, the shorter the period between races, the better.

(to be continued)

The British Horseracing Authority was formally launched yesterday [July 31] as the single, unified governing body for British Horseracing. Its role is to regulate, promote and represent the sport.

The Authority takes on the roles of the British Horseracing Board and the Horseracing Regulatory Authority, with both of those organisations ceasing to exist. Its inaugural Chairman is Paul Roy, with Nic Coward its first Chief Executive.

Alongside the Chairman and Chief Executive, the remainder of the eight-strong Board, which has a strong emphasis on independence and decision-making in the best interests of British Horseracing as a whole, is as follows:

• Toby Balding - Member Nominee Director
• John Bridgeman - Independent Regulatory Director
• Morag Gray - Independent Director
• Ben Gunn - Independent Regulatory Director
• Jim McGrath - Independent Director
• Ian Renton - Member Nominee Director

Other new additions to britishorseracing.com include downloadable Official Ratings – which are updated on a weekly basis by the Authority’s team of handicappers – detailed live non-runner and going reports and information covering the full range of the Authority’s activities.

British Horseracing Authority Chief Executive Nic Coward said: “The British Horseracing Authority is a fresh start, with the backing of all sectors of the industry. We are here to listen, and to take a lead, looking to achieve the best for British Horseracing in all that we do.

“We have an enthusiastic team in place and are building a clear picture of the opportunities and challenges ahead.”

The first one is flat racing, which, as its name suggests, is carried out on a track where there are no obstacles - the track is flat.  You can watch flat racing anytime in the year although the main season runs from April to October.  The other type of racing is the National Hunt.  As opposed to flat racing, this type of race has jumps.  You can also watch this race all throughout the year but the main season runs from October to April.  Some race courses have both kinds of races while others feature a single type.

Now how about betting?  There are two main ways – with the bookmakers and with the Tote.  The former offers fixed-odds betting.  That is, you always know how much you will win in case your pick makes it.  The latter offers pool betting, wherein all the bets on a horse are put into a pool.  The winnings are then shared among the bettors.

The numerous racecourses are broadly categorized into the following groups:

•    Members (also called Club or Premier) Enclosure
This is the high end option for going to the horse races.  Racecourses which fall under the Members Enclosure category often offer the best viewing and other facilities.  Though the name may be misleading, anyone can book a ticket for a Members course.  It’s just that the members of the course carry a badge that allow them more access.

•    Tattersalls (also called Grandstand or Paddock) Enclosure
The largest enclosure of the bunch.  You would expect this place to be crowded and buzzing with activity all throughout the day.  More than betting, you can find other activities such as eating and drinking and socializing.

•    Silver Ring (also called Course or Park) Enclosure
Known to be the least formal and least expensive of them all.  Perhaps one reason is that from this enclosure, you cannot see the Parade Ring or the Winners Enclosure.  Still, you get to see the horses on the racecourse and for many, that is all that they want.  You can also get food and drink in this enclosure but the trend is to bring along food for a picnic.

Let’s look at some more aspects of British horse racing in the next posts.

“I’ve retired the horse, and it was after a nice race he had out at Finger Lakes,” the trainer Barclay Tagg said yesterday. “Everybody was happy; everybody was thrilled. It was a good time to do this, on a winning note.”
Tagg added that Funny Cide was not injured and could have continued to race.
“He’s fine and he looks great,” he said. “It was just time to do this.”
Funny Cide will remain at Tagg’s stable at Belmont Park and will be converted to a stable pony, accompanying his former stablemates to the track each morning during training hours.

A little bit more history on Funny Cide – he won the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont in 2004.  Yet it seems that 2003 was his last great year as his career spiraled downward after that.  In any case, he had his own share of supporters.  In fact, many believe that the owners’ decision in retiring Funny Cide is the right one, as they believe that he has had his day in the sun.

Imagine staying in a little town with ancient brick alleyways and medieval fortresses all around you.  It is the epitome of peace and quiet.  Cars are even banned from majority of the city.  You can just walk around and enjoy the scenery and not be bothered by motorists and the pollution that motored vehicles bring.

Yet as quiet as Sienna is, it has some piece of action to offer as well.  Horse racing enthusiasts will find it a delight to watch bare back horse races at Il Palio.  One should not miss these bare back horse races which are held at the Piazza del Campo.  Neighborhoods are all involved in the races and the action starts even before the races begin.  Different groups go around in the middle of the night, making a ruckus and challenging their neighbors.  During the race day itself, each neighborhood has a contestant that they will back with all their might.

It is indeed quite a different experience from horse racing as we know in the U.S. and other parts of the world today.  Yet real lovers of horses and the sport of horse racing will definitely appreciate the culture and the excitement that this kind of horse racing will bring.

1.    Pay a lot of attention to the details.  No matter how tiny it may be, do not discount any particular detail.  The negative signs that you should look out for – aside from those mentioned in the last post – are: a dull coat, runny eyes or nose, open sores, front wraps, tendon problems, and popping the tail up and down.

On the other hand, you should also be on the lookout for positive signs.  After all, what you want is to find the horse that will increase your chances of winning.  So what signs should you look for in a good horse?  It does not always follow but in most cases, a dressed up horse is a good sign.  A very neat mane and even a plaited mane is a simple statement that says that horse is well taken care of.  A prancing horse is a good sign as well.  other signs are a shiny coat, dapples, and bright shiny eyes.

2.     After you “around the paddock” inspection, do not think that your job is done.  Wait for the jockey to actually mount the horse and head on to the track.  You should also see if any negative or positive signs show up at this point.

3.    At this point you should be ready to make your pick.  Go ahead, trust your guts and wager!  Best of luck to you.