I've been betting horses practically my entire life, and if there's one truth that never changes, it's this: the learning never stops. Every meet, every card, every race teaches you something new—if you're paying attention. What worked last year might fall flat this season. Angles that were gold six months ago can turn to dust if the landscape shifts. One of the most valuable lessons I've picked up over time is this: if the same trainers, jockeys, or owner combos keep beating you, it's probably time to stop fading them and start including them in your sequences. Consistently losing to the same connections isn’t bad luck—it’s a sign you’re ignoring something obvious.

Now, don’t get me wrong—losing isn't always a negative. In fact, sometimes losing is the best thing that can happen to you. It forces reflection, learning, and growth. If you're cashing tickets based on flawed logic or pure blind luck, that’s actually more dangerous. Luck can keep you from recognizing bad habits, and this game has a ruthless way of exposing them eventually. You might go on a hot streak playing low-percentage angles, but if you never adapt, that heater will end, and when it does, it'll be brutal. This sport doesn't reward arrogance—it rewards evolution, humility, and deep work.

I won’t sit here and claim to be the most knowledgeable horseplayer alive—but there’s very little I haven’t seen. I've been devouring the Daily Racing Form since I was a little kid. I’m 44 now, which means I’ve been at this for over four decades. That kind of immersion builds intuition, but it never builds certainty.

The people who get under my skin the most at the track are the so-called experts—the ones who act like they’ve solved the game and don’t have anything left to learn. That kind of attitude is toxic. This game is a beast, and it will humble you—no matter who you are or how long you’ve been doing it.

Betting horses isn’t about mastering it once and coasting—it's about surviving the curveballs and always staying sharp.

HISA Hits Junior Alvarado with a $62,000 Fine — For What, Exactly? Discipline or Disdain?

This week, jockey Junior Alvarado was fined $62,000 by HISA for what they’re calling excessive use of the riding crop. Let that sink in. That’s not a fine — that’s a financial gut punch. For context, that’s more than the winner’s share in plenty of mid-level stakes races. So now, a professional athlete — arguably one of the best in the game — is being penalized tens of thousands of dollars for doing his job in the heat of competition? It’s not just unfair — it’s out right ridiculous.

Let’s be clear: the crop/whip is not some medieval torture device. It’s a padded tool used for communication, encouragement, and safety. Anyone who’s ever galloped, ponied, or even watched a race from close range knows that horses aren’t being abused — they’re simply being guided. When a 1,200-pound animal is running full tilt among a dozen others, sometimes a tap is the only thing keeping horse and rider in rhythm and out of danger. Taking that tool away, or punishing jockeys harshly for using it, puts both horse and rider at greater risk. It’s counterproductive, no matter how “modern” the policy sounds on paper.  

What’s even more frustrating is the way HISA seems determined to police the optics of racing rather than the actual welfare of its participants. I’ve been in this game a long time. I’ve seen how well these horses are treated — better than most people, in fact. Daily showers, massages, manicures and pedicures, high-end diets, around-the-clock medical care, and more love and treats than your average household pet. They don’t miss meals — some of us humans working in the game aren’t so lucky. These horses are cared for like royalty. If HISA’s goal is truly to protect them, maybe start by focusing on racetrack conditions, inconsistent stewards’ rulings, or the lack of transparency in medication rules. But no — instead, we’re handing out $62,000 fines for using a tool that keeps everyone safer? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

Racing is already a tough business, with declining handle, political pressure, and a growing disconnect between the public and the people who live and breathe (pun intended) this sport. If HISA wants to help, it’s time they stop punishing the professionals who make racing possible and start working with them, not against them. Junior Alvarado didn’t harm anyone — he tried to win a race and keep things safe in the process. That used to be called good riding. Now? It gets you a fine bigger than a year’s salary for some exercise riders.

This heavy-handed approach isn’t helping racing evolve — it’s choking it.

1. BET on LESS TRACKS

Betting too many tracks takes your focus away, its better to focus on one or two tracks and master them. 

2. Bet Less Races

You don’t have to bet every race, doing so will make it almost impossible to come up ahead in the long run.  

3. Spread Less

In the age of .10 supers, .50 pick 3s and 4s it’s easy to spread and include horses you may have normally left out.  Remember with every horse you are adding to ticket you are essentially betting against yourself and betting the same on horses you like a little than that of horses you like a lot. 

4. Envision how a race will unfold

Who is going to the lead?—-Is their enough pace to setup a closer?—Will the outside speed horse have to go wide on first turn, etc. Is their a lone speed horse in here?

5. Do not dismiss post position 

Post position is one of the most important aspects of racing, races are won and lost at the draw.   You don’t want a wide trip, nor do you want your speed horse on the rail when the horse has shown he can’t get out of gate good.   Races are won and lost in the first stage of race and post position has a lot to do with it. 

6. Create a virtual stable and add notes

There is a myriad of reasons to add a horse to your stable, troubled trip, big gallop out, jockey didn’t try, speed biased day and closer made up ton of ground or even an impressive horse that caught your eye, get a stable and add horses to it. 

7. The most important, visit Live and Breathe horse racing group on Facebook. 

This is a no brainer, the best handicappers in the country are posting in this group and sharing their trade. 

Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, is more than just a racetrack—it’s a pillar of American horse racing. If Santa Anita were to close, the impact would be felt far beyond the confines of Southern California.

True racing fans, who understand the importance of this historic venue, would be devastated by the loss. Santa Anita is home to some of the most prestigious races in the country, and the breathtaking backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains offers a unique and irreplaceable setting for fans and horses alike. To lose a track like Santa Anita would be a catastrophic blow to the sport—one that could never be fully replaced. Many horse racing enthusiasts not just those in the Southern California region still miss Hollywood Park which closed in 2013 and left us with only one major racetrack in Los Angeles County.

While other tracks like Oaklawn Park enjoy financial support from casino welfare, Santa Anita has had to survive without these subsidies. The lack of additional revenue streams has made it increasingly difficult for Santa Anita to compete on the same financial playing field as tracks that benefit from casino funds. Yet, despite these financial challenges, the track continues to thrive with a strong handle and big pools for bettors to make a lot of money from. If it were to close, it would not only rob the racing community of a historic venue but would highlight how the industry's financial landscape has shifted in a way that leaves tracks like Santa Anita—relying purely on racing revenues—at a severe disadvantage.

The closure of Santa Anita would show that, in an industry increasingly dominated by outside interests and financial powerhouses, tradition and history take a backseat and is that what we want?

From December through March, when nearly every other track in the country is plagued by bitter weather that prevents turf racing, Santa Anita is one of the few places where turf horses can continue to race. The mild Southern California climate ensures that turf horses can compete during a critical period when other tracks are shut down. If Santa Anita were gone, turf racing would be left with no place to flourish during these months, crushing the hopes of owners, trainers, and bettors who rely on the track’s unique position. Where would this turf horses run? Oaklawn doesn't have a turf course?

For true horse racing fans—those who live and breathe the sport—there is no substitute for Santa Anita. The idea of it closing isn’t just a disappointment—it’s a nightmare that would change the face of horse racing forever. If Santa Anita goes, the soul of American horse racing will be irreparably harmed.

With a lifetime of experience in the racing world, I recently had the privilege of watching a race from a novel vantage point – directly alongside the starting gate.

This experience was truly electrifying, and I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude toChris Victor for making this possible.

Several key aspects of this experience left a lasting impression on me.

For instance, the close proximity to the horses allowed for a captivating visual observation of the horses immediately prior to the race. Moreover, the atmosphere was surprisingly tranquil, with the starters and jockeys exchanging lighthearted remarks, creating an almost palpable sense of anticipation.

The sudden, sharp sound of the gates opening, accompanied by the thundering of hooves, was amazing..

This experience has deepened my respect for the starters, who must carefully guide 1,000-pound animals into the gate and SA as we know have the best team in horse racing as races go off on time regularly . 

I strongly encourage everyone to experience this at least once.