I have looked over Thursday races at Belmont Park and came up with three races that I will bet. As I have done for years. I bet one horse to WP in every race I bet, 2 horses in an exacta box, three horses in a trifecta box and now 4 horses in a small super box followed by a super key with the one I usually am betting to WP keyed to the ones I like underneath boxed. So basically, I believe the horse I am betting to win will do just that, but in case he has trouble of any kind, including simply getting outrun, I also bet him to place. I do not bet any horse to show at any time and that includes my top choice. But I will also box my exacta, tri and super to leverage against my top choice not quite getting on top but runs good enough to key one of my exotic bets. I can not say this will work for anybody else, but this is the money management system that change my luck at betting the horses and also help me take my life to another level that would have not been possible. Under my old way of handicapping, when I hit a nice paying race, I would often give it back in a matter of weeks and saw my self constantly starting over with my own money. Under the current system that I use, when I hit a nice paying race, it often takes up to six months to lose it back, but by then I have hit another dozen or so races, so I am usually playing with winnings and not my own money that I use to pay every day expenses with. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that what everyone is hoping for?

2nd Race: Maiden Special Weight--- 3 YO & Up Fillies--- Restricted To NY Breds--- Purse $62,000--- 1 Mile Turf:

10) Tax Me Naught(30-1) starts from the 11 post if all starts, including those that are entered for the main track only. Realistic, she should start from the 9th post if the race stays on grass. She finished distanced third in her debut behind runaway winning daughter of Bustin Stones, who also finished in fairly good time for Finger Lakes. In her 2nd start at Finger Lakes, she ran second, beaten 1/2 length to the heavy favorite, where she tried in vain to chase down in 5 furlongs, with a good finishing time of 59 4/5 for that track. She has a good work since that effort and ships to Belmont where is she entered on the grass, which her bloodlines suggests she is better bred for. Her sire, Cosmonaut, a multiple G3 stakes winning son of Lemon Drop Kid on grass who ran several solid races against G1 competition, but was not quite good enough to beat them. Her broodmare sire, Freud, is a full brother to Giant's Causeway and like his brother, his foals are known for their front running speed on both grass and dirt. Her trainer, Linda Dixon has spent the last 30 years chasing after everyone's elusive dream and may have luck into a good horse to train.

7)Running On Entry(8-1) is my choice for 2nd. He has started once and ran 2nd while closing with a rush to just miss at 7 furlongs on grass. With four works since his first start, all indicating he came out of that start non the worse for wear and the fact he stretches to a mile, makes him the one to beat. His trainer, James Toner, is a 12 % lifetime trainer whose best runners are known for their grass abilities as most of his graded stakes wins has been on grass. His sire, Point Of Entry was a multiple G1 stakes winner who won 6 of 8 of his graded stakes starts on that surface with both defeats coming in the G1 BC Turf when 2nd & 4th in back to back years.

11) Corey Scores(6-1) starts just outside my top choice and is trained by Chad Brown. He has ran third twice in three starts, one an off the turf effort and one on the grass effort. His first start this year, also on the grass, saw him have trouble at the start and then went wide in his only unplaced effort in the same race as my 2nd choice. However, he, too, has four works since that effort, all good for Brown trainees, suggest he can win with a better trip. His bloodlines suggests a mile may be slightly longer than he wants to go, but Brown knows his grass runners and he believes he can get the job done. Post position is not ideal for him but Brown has proven he can overcome most unfavorable obstacles, especially on grass.

9)Sterling Beauty(10-1) has started 5 times in her career, with 3 thirds in her last 3 starts, the last two her only starts on grass. Her sire Central Banker, is a G2 stakes winning son of Speightstown who also won one non graded sprint on grass, both from slightly off the pace. Her dam, Them There Eyes, won 2 stakes on grass in her career, one a NY Bred and one a listed stakes, while coming from well off the pace, much like this daughter has so far. Sterling Beauty's broodmare sire, Holy Bull, was an all or nothing front runner who won 13 of 16 starts, while finishing unplaced in all three starts when he did not get the lead. Donk, her trainer, also wins at 12% and his graded stakes performers are much better on grass than dirt.

While all three of my underneath picks could run 1,2,3, I will bet that my top choice gets somewhere in the mix, if she does not win this race. There are several others that I did not mention who also would be no surprise, but I have decided to use these four.

Bets: WP 10, Ex Box 7-10, Tri Box 7-10-11, .10 Super Box 7-9-10-11, Super Key 10 with 7-9-11 with 7-9-11 with 7-9-11.

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Race 4: Maiden Special Weight--- 3 YO & Up Fillies--- Purse $80,000--- 1 1/16M Turf:

2)Funny Flowers(8-1) is my choice to win. She broke poorly in her first and only start and ran an even race, passing only tiring horses. But she has 4 very good works since and should be much closer to the early pace. He sire is Distorted Humor and broodmare sire is Stormy Atlantic, sire of multiple G1 winner Get Stormy. However, Funny Flowers's female line is one to be alert of if you value bloodlines as much as I do and I will put this here to let you see for your self: https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/137259/north-of-eden-28-dies.

5)San Saria(8-1) is my choice to finish 2nd. She has 2 starts and finished unplaced in both. She broke slowly in her first start and did not pick up her feet. In her second start, she broke better but ran an even race while picking up a couple in the stretch to finish just ahead of my top choice. her sire, a son of Galileo & Ouija Board(won BC F & M Turf Twice with one second in that race), won 5 of 8 lifetime starts, including the Epsom & Irish Derbies. San Saria's broodmare sire, Daggers Drawn, won a pair of 2 YOs G2 stakes in England. San Saria also has a pair of good works since her last, signaling she and my top choice may be exiting a key race, which would also include the 1A.

8)Charreada(4-1) is my choice for third. She has made 4 starts in her career, finishing 3rd twice, all last year. She is one of 2 4 YOs entered in this race and is working forward for her first start this year. However, her trainer, McGaughey, has picked an extremely tough spot for her to graduate. Her sire is Kitten's Joy, top grass sire for a number of years and her broodmare sire is Giant's Causeway, a solid sire on both dirt and grass. Charreada's 2nd dam is La Reina, who is another who hails from a blue hen female family.

3)Style Icon(7-2) has started 7 times, running unplaced in her first start, followed by three thirds and then 3 seconds, including two this year while just missing the win in her last two. She has three AWT works at Fair Hill, a tactic usually used by her trainer, to prepare for this start, all not too fast or slow that would eliminate her in this start. Her sire, Artie Schiller, won the G1 BC Mile and her broodmare sire, Trempolino, finished 2nd in The BC Turf in his only U.S. appearance and final start of his career. While Style Icon's dam line is also impressive, it pales in comparison to my top choice. 2nd dam, Fabuleux Jane, is also 2nd dam of Arazi, winner of the G1 BC Juvenile on dirt in a romp and Europe & U.S. Champion 2 YO Colt of 1991.
Bets: WP 2, Ex Box 2-5, Tri Box 2-5-8, .10 Super Box 2-3-5-8, Super Key 2 with 3-5-8 with 3-5-8 with 3-5-8.

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7th Race: Allowance----3 YO & Up Fillies---- Purse $84,000--- 1 Mile Turf:

3)Panther Hit(5-1) will be my choice to win. She has started 3 times with a win and a second. Two starts back, she broke on top and set a steady pace and won while still clear in a good time for maiden fillies at 1 mile on grass. She returned in her next start in the non restricted Honey Fox S at 1 1/16M on grass where she ran an even race after steadying into the first turn on a good turf course, which most struggles to make up any ground on that type of going. In this start, she returns to 1 mile on grass and drops back in with condition allowance foes. While she has two slow works since her last start, they came on dirt and she has never worked very fast on that surface in over 20 lifetime works, indicating she does not like that surface at all. Plenty of front running speed in here but she should be able to handle them. Luis Saez picks up the mount on the only 3 YO in the field.

7)Go Rose(4-1) is the biggest threat to my top choice. She made her U.S. debut in her first start this year in the same conditions as this race, sitting just off the early slow pace and being unable to make up any ground as the pace quicken, but also not giving up in an even effort while finishing 4th. She also has a little back class as she ran 3rd in the G2 German 1000 Guineas last year. Like my top choice, she has worked 5 times since her last, all in times that will usually not catch your eyes, but fast enough to indicate she is moving forward for this test. Irad Ortiz picks up the mount.

5)Dream Passage(7-2) last two wins has came in conditions restricted to NY Bred. However, she has some bloodlines showing that she will be able to rate if the pace gets too hot, which is expected in this test. If she can not settle and make a late run, she will not factor in the outcome of this race.

6) Bath And Tennis(15-1) is sort of interesting in here. She started her career in England and found the graded competition more than she can handled, at that time. Sent to the U.S. late last year, she has a lot of works since arriving, including several that indicates she has some ability. She has made two starts, including a stakes race, both at 5 furlongs on grass and she did not run a lick in either. However, her bloodlines suggests she would probably enjoy a grassy mile most and that is where she has been entered. Her sire, Footstepsinthesand, won his only 3 starts, including 2 stakes, one which included the G1 2000 Guineas in England. Likewise, her broodmare sire, Fasliyev, won all 5 of his starts as a 2 YO In England to earn Europe's Champion 2 YO Colt, but broke a leg while on the shelf waiting for his 3 YO season to begin and was retired. Bath And Tennis's third dam, Born Gold is dam of 3 time U.S. Champion Turf Mile(and Europe's 4 time champion female) And 3 time BC Turf Mile winner, Goldikova. If she had one more start this year or if one start was at a mile, she would be my top choice in this race. However, since she does not, I will still toss her in my super box and key.

Bets: WP 3, Ex Box 3-7, Tri Box 3-5-7, .10 Super 3-5-6-7, Super Key 3 with 5-6-7 with 5-6-7 with 5-6-7.

However, if this race is taken off the grass, it is a pass for me, as none of my choices has shown they can handle the surface switch.

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My Thoughts And Beliefs From Years Of Learning How To Handicap Horse Races.

I have listed a lot of thoughts and beliefs that I have learned through the years of handicapping horse races. These comments were not taken from other experts who may think they know more, but rather from years of watching and betting on horses. While I would never think I am an expert at anything I do, I do believe my thoughts have served me well through the years. But this is because while I listened to thousands of other bettors and trainers, in the end it was my decision to determine what I would use and what I would let go and leave alone. It really does not matter to me if others think I do not know what I am talking about or if they believe I am right. I am simply posting because I like helping others that are willing to help them shelves but may not know where or how to start. Handicapping is confusing enough when you know what you are looking for, much less when you have no idea of what to look for.

First Time Lasix--- First Time Lasix used to be a powerful tool to use. But that was before tracks changed the rules that allowed trainers and/or owners to use the medication for no other reason than it "levels the playing field". Before the change, all horses had to get a vet's exam and have him certified that a horse did bleed during a race(blood in the nostrils and/or lungs) before he was allowed to use lasix. Horses won quite often with lasix for the first time back then, but this angle was inconsistent. It took me a few years to figure out which ones would benefit from lasix for the first time, but then it hit me to what was happening over and over. Horses that bled in a race before lasix was required to go on a 19 day bleeders list which they could not race during this period but were allowed to work out. With the vet's certification in hand, trainers would work the horse with the addition of lasix, and were not required to report they had injected the horse with the medicine. So in all actuality, these horses were listed as first time lasix because it was their first race on lasix, but it was their 2nd or third time using the medicine(vary depending on how many works prior to starting the horse had and/or trainer's beliefs).

After figuring this out, I started looking for horses that were actuality second time lasix, either one who had a work after being certified to have bled or the second start after adding lasix. But when they started allowing all horses to use the medicine for no other reason than a trainer wanted to use it, I thought there goes that well paying angle. Well, that thought turned out to be not exactly. You see, all medicine will usually have a long term adverse effect on any horse and/or human if you use it too much. And lasix makes most horses jittery and/or nervous(a better word) the first time it enters their bloodstream.

I started looking for horse that I knew was using lasix for the second time mostly. And now, if you take a look at all two years old races, 90%+ uses the medicine in their first start. But most trainers, unlike the 1980's & 1990's, will not add lasix the first time until they are ready to run in their first race. Again, even today, trainers are not required to report whether they are using lasix or not in a work. But more 2 YOs wins in their 2nd start today than their first start. They will be working lights out before their first start, but then is jittery or nervous before the first start when lasix is added. Then they come back in their 2nd start and does not feel the effect of lasix nearly as much. And they blow the field away, usually at decent to high odds, because bettors believe they over estimated the horses chances in their first start. You have heard me say several times, I look for horses that were working solidly before their first start, then broke poorly and finished up the track, especially if lasix was added before their first start, then works at least once more before their 2nd start. Why do you think I love to bet maiden special weights? It is all about feeling nervous and even acting up from the effect of lasix for the first time that causes horses working solidly to get a bad start or drain their energy while warming up. Young horses are prong to act up or feel nervous when they are asked to experience something they have not yet faced anyways, such as crowd noise and being loaded into the gate and wait while others are loaded also. You now have the answer. I've known a few of the top trainers little secret for quite a few years.

WEIGHT: This is another area that is often misunderstood but would benefit most if they have a real understanding of what weight can or can not do. In today's racing, most trainers will refuse to run their horses if saddled with more than 126 lbs. Weight affects horses that wants to get out front the most. However, a speedball who must have the lead to perform his best will still get the early lead often but he will have to use more energy to get there and will usually stop if pressured by another out of the gate to the halfway point of the race. However, the best front runner type to bet against when saddled with more weight is one that tends to break a little slow in all his races, regardless of weight, then rushes up to contest the pace. When saddled with top weight or giving another speedster with lighter weight a head start before he joins them, he is often at a disadvantage and even if he puts the lighter weight horse away, he will still need to contend with others coming slightly off the pace or even late runners, provided they can stay close enough early to make their presence felt late. The key is can the lighter weight horse make him run harder enough early(or put him away) that it takes away some of his energy late in the race.

Most late runners will not be affected by additional weight nearly as much as front running horses. They are planning on making one late push and an additional length or two will not affect a late runner nearly as much as a front runner. Weight only slows a horse slightly at the start by making them work a little harder to build speed and once their speed is up, it affects them very little. But that split second can be huge for a front runner but not nearly as important for a late runner. Then there are a few horses, both front runners and late runners, who will not be able to handle giving any others a weight break. Others can give as much as necessary because their will to win outweighs the added burden of extra weight.

BLINKERS ON: There are a vary of reasons that a trainer decides to add blinkers. While there are many different types of blinkers, trainers do not have to specify which one they intend to use. Trainers use full cup and darker blinkers when they fear their horse will stop trying when they see another horse giving the same effort as they are and/or to prevent him from jumping shadows(mostly his own). They will become discouraged when challenged. Most trainers uses half cup blinkers when they want the horse to see what is in front of him but does not want him looking around to see what is coming from behind. Blinkers are also great for keeping a horse's mind on the task at hand(racing) and prevents him from looking around at the scenery and/or other runners.

BLINKERS OFF: Trainers usually removes blinkers for several reasons also. First, they might think it really did not help the horse enough to leave them on. Blinkers helps a horse to focus on running, but they also can hurt a few horses because some horses like to see their competitors and will try harder when they spot them. This is better known as heart but not all horses displays any symptoms of willing to win regardless of the challenge presented. Blinkers off will also help some horses to relax a little early and save a little for the stretch run. These types of horses tends to prefer to sit just off the pace but not battle for the early lead and let others do the hard work early then making their move after the front runners become rubber leggy.

Shadow Rolls: This is a piece of equipment that most bettors thinks is for looks, but not exactly true. Shadows rolls is the piece of cloth that slips over the strap on a horse's nose. Trainers who wants their horse to see others as they approach the front runners/speed types(mostly) but are concerned they have or may jump shadows, they will opt for this equipment instead. Take a look at the last two TC winners. They both wore blue shadow rolls instead of blinkers, a trademark Baffert is famous for, but a piece of equipment several trainers used years before I even heard of him. Trainers do not have to report when they add or remove shadow rolls like they do with blinkers. FYI, Baffert started Arrogate with blinkers on in his first career start. Prior to his second start, Baffert reported Arrogate would race with blinkers off. He replaced the blinkers with a shadow roll(blue of course) which he was not require to report and Arrogate went on a 7 race winning streak. Justify and American Pharoah(5th in first start) both debuted with blinkers in their first start but both had them removed before their 2nd start(both wins). While removing blinkers and adding a shadow roll instead is a rare equipment change, Baffert has done this with success for most of his career. Real Quiet debuted in a shadow roll and after 6 starts of failing to break his maiden(with 4 thirds), the shadow roll was removed and blinkers were added. He broke his maiden with first time blinkers added and six starts later won the Ky Derby. Silver Charm, another Baffert's other near miss TC winner, also debuted in blinkers(finished 2nd) but they were removed and a shadow roll added prior to his 2nd start. Baffert found a piece of equipment that most thought was unimportant that he did not have to inform others when he switched and has used to his advantage for over 20 years.

Track Bias: Track Bias of all kinds can be misleading to say the least. First of all, when you read or even see a supposed bias, you have no idea of what went into each study unless you personally tracked the bias yourself. What most perceives as a bias is often anything but a bias. For instance, most tracks are considered to be speed bias because speed wins most of the time. And so on surface there seems to be a bias. But what is not considered in that analysis is how many of the speed or front runners would have won even if the track was even. I can guarantee you over half of them would on any track against the competition they were facing. Take those out and consider the rest and the speed bias winning percentage drops drastically. A real bias, to me at least, means a horse wins race after race when he would not figure otherwise. This has been one of the best angles through the years for making big bucks. Even Beyers mentions in his book about winning $60G in one year that he had initially lost $30G in a month at Saratoga because he believe the track had a speed bias on the outside and he was betting according and losing photo finishes race after race. But when he decided to go back and take another look after an extremely bad month, he decided he would play the track as even and he had misread the bias. It now seemed the best horse was winning race after race without any help from the track. And his winnings exploded. If you want proof he said that, READ THE BOOK! I did, several times over because I know if someone in the know can make mistakes, then I certainly can and/or probably will. But when I spot a bias that I know is real, then I will start looking for the ones that can overcome the bias. You get odds in these type of horses that you would not or even could not expect to get if the track was even.
Post Position Bias: There is rarely a post position bias that is truly just that. In most races except the top graded races, post positions are assigned by each track's racing secretary. Post Position are not drawn in these races, but rather assigned by the racing secretary by what he supposedly believes will give each horse their best chance to compete. How much weight a horse carries in any race is also decided by the racing secretary and he does this by writing the conditions of every race that determines which horse is eligible or not to compete. I have seen one truly post position bias in my life and that was at Oaklawn Park in the late 1980's. The track was frozen along the inner rail and the one post won every race over a three week period, with the exception of three races. The 2 post won twice and the 3 post once during this three week period, but that was near the end of the period the track returned to normal. Three giant P6(no P3 or P4 were offered on Oaklawn Park races at this time and the P6 betting had just recently added to exotic betting) were hit during this period because most horses breaking from the 1 post did not figured to stand a chance on a track that favored front running speed, but all showed they perform the best when they got the early lead.

Track Conditions: This is also a very misunderstood angle from most bettors. A track that is truly off takes about three days to return to its fastest condition, from when the heavy rain stops to the dirt or grass becoming completely dry. But most tracks will list the track fast within a day after the rain stops and a few within 4-5 hours because on the surface it looks dry but underneath the top soil it is still soaked or gooey. This is the biggest reason speed figures can be misleading but far from the only one. Wind and its direction and velocity can also affect times, sun light and its angle of beaming or not beaming down on the track also affects times, shade, frozen, wetness, etc are some of the other factors. I have my hardest time of cashing tickets when the track is not noticeably off but is still drying out from recent rain and/or watering. Most tracks has their drainage system set up in the middle of their dirt track, in order to remove as much water build up as quickly as possible. So while it is usually gives horses near the rail an advantage while the rain is falling, mostly because it is the shortest path to victory, moving a few paths out usually offers an advantage after the rain has stopped but is still draining towards the middle of the track, simply because it is less tiring running on water based tracks(or parts of tracks) than it is running in goo or sticky dirt. You will learn when to spot when it is better to stay inside or move out by watching top jockeys. Most jockeys study films and also hear from other jockeys when the best track paths changes, either normally after a hard rain or during the race day itself.

First Time Geldings: This used to be a horrible angle to follow, if you wanted to make good money. But in the last few years, it has became much more reliable. So what change? Years ago, trainers that recommend to owners that a horse would probably perform better if gelded was doing so because the horse could not be controlled in workouts and/or races. They were often horses that were not considered by most to be well bred and probably would not attain stallion value(top breeders only want to breed the best to the best, in their opinion). Most stallions back then only had a book of 30-65 breedings a year before most owners listed their bookings as full and would not accept any more mares until the next year. So many owners opted not to geld a horse they thought had a chance to throw a solid horse, if bred properly. There were plenty of opportunities for even a horse not considered among the elite to prove breeders wrong. And they did often do just that. Today, top stallions does easily more than 100 matings a year(some near 200 matings per year), so less than half the stallions eligible to breed are needed in today's game. Now the horses that may be borderline for success as a stallion and owners feel they will not get enough mares to have a probability of success, they are often taken out of training and gelded. Before they return, trainers are getting them fit enough to win and this is the key to them winning as a first time gelding. Also, they are better bred than the ones from many years ago only adds to the probability.

Mud Chalks Or Stickers: Some trainers believe that adding mud chalks when the track is off will help their horses get a better grip on the track. And it probably does, but it will still not help the horse to win unless he is fit and ready to win. Most of the horses that win with mud chalks added does so because he is fit enough to win or others are not ready to win, with or without the chalks. So, myself, I rarely consider these when I am handicapping a race. And I could probably count on one hand the number of horses that won wearing mud chalks that I watched when they did not figure otherwise in more than 40 years of betting.

Whips: Whips are another overblown equipment prospect. Whips are good at getting horses to try his hardest but a steady feel of the whip will add, on average, 1/5 of a second to his final time or beginning times, depending on when the whip is first applied by the jockey in a race. Whips are good for something else also, such as knocking the horse off form when applied too much during a race. A hard vigorous hand ride where the jockey grabs a piece of the horse's mane and pushes hard is just as effective as steady whipping, if not a better method. Pat Day was the first jockey I saw that used a piece of the horse's mane and a hard push more effective than he used the whip. Even Pat Day used to comment he favored giving the horse a brisk hand ride over the use of a whip. Using the whip makes a jockey reach back to hit the horse and as much effect it has on getting the horse attention, it can also force the jockey to move from his optimum riding position that will have as much negative effect as positive effect as the horse feeling the whip. A lot of trainers tells the jockey to wave the whip where the horse can see it and this is just as effective as feeling the whip, but the jockey can maintain his optimum crouch. So when I hear the horse lost because the jockey did not use the whip and was not even trying to win, I know they have not really watch the end of most races, but only their horse not getting whipped.
While most of the angles I use were taken from reading many books, I modified most of them to fit what I believed in. I have always tried to find angles that the masses either overlooks or has not heard any expert even mention, let alone knows about. While most of these angles will lead to frustration if you take it at what it says(especially from the books) and leave it at that, you will benefit taking each angle by learning when they seen to be working best. What works at one track may not work as good at another track or even not at all at some tracks. I have taken everything I heard about, charted the ones that I thought could work for me, thought about how I would applied each angle and when and this is what helps me the most. Like bloodlines, all angles are less than useful if you are not willing to learn how and when to applied each angle. It takes experience and learning to figure out what works best for each individual handicapper and then applying it to your advantage when you see it appear. It also can help everyone when they realize that something is not working as desired and they are willing to make changes to benefit their own shelves, instead of trying the same old thing over and over without success and expecting that big windfall to suddenly appear. Not likely, but there is always lady luck you can hope for.

How to Bet and Win the Preakness - Anatomy of the Perfect Bet

Horse Racing Tips - How To Lay Favourites And Make A Profit Every Single Day

For all of you that are reading this that do not know what "Laying" is, it is simply YOU predicting 1 horse in any race that will NOT win that race. In effect YOU become a bookmaker and take bets from people who think that the horse WILL win.
I do not know if you have your own system or you use horse racing tips from a tipster, but this a very simple horse racing system anybody can use.
It is not complicated at all and it is simply pressing 1 button on Betfair exactly the same as you would if placing a win single bet {Pink lay button instead of the blue win button}
Some people will tell you that laying horses is a sure fire way to end up in the "poor house" and they would be dead right if you don't do it properly and this goes for ANY bet you have, not just laying.
Say for example we have a 12 runner horse race and you wanted to bet 1 of these to win that race, you will then have ALL the other 11 horses running AGAINST you and are trying to stop your 1 selection from winning.
Now on the other hand we have a 12 runner horse race and we pick 1 horse to LOSE {lay} we now have ALL the other 11 horses running FOR US and if any of those 11 horses win that race WE WIN!!
Some tipster give these kind of horse racing tips and I can assure that if done properly it can make you quite a lot of money!
So the odds are WITH you and not AGAINST you when laying.
The only problem with laying horses to lose is with YOU and the way you select them. You would imagine that "Laying" the outsider in all races would certainly stand you in good stead as the majority of them lose and you would win the majority of the time BUT unfortunately if you take that course you WILL come unstuck at some point and you WOULD wipe out any previous profits plus more from your original betting banks, as they do win now and again.
Lets just imagine that the outsider in every race was 33/1 and you wanted just £10 profit per race, to win that £10 you would have a liability of £330, meaning that if that horse were to win YOU would LOSE £330, just not worth the risk!! You would only need 1 per week to wipe you out.
==The "Favourite"==
Some of you probably think that I am a bit mad at this point, why would I lay the best horse in every race... what kind of horse racing tips is this??
Well, simply put the BEST horse in any race may NOT really be the best horse! The favourite in ANY race is only the favourite because WE make it the favourite by placing lots of money on it, it's as simple as that.
So if 1,000 people who DON'T know what they are doing place £1000 each on the same horse then it could become the favourite even though its last run was down on Blackpool pleasure beach!
What we are going to do is to find "false" favourites, favourites that because of one reason or another shouldn't really be favourite.
Statistics show that favourite win their races just 30% of the time, some races are GOOD for favourite and some races are BAD for favourites.
Would you bet a 6/4 favourite in an 18 runner handicap race? I certainly would not BUT I would lay it, with the other 17 runners ALL running for me.... these is common sense horse racing tips!
Your liabilities are also good with you only risking £15 if the odds were 6/4 {2.5 on Betfair} to win £10, I'm sure you would agree that this is a lot better than the example above where you risk a LOT more for the same reward.
You may now see why "Laying" can be quite safe and very profitable.
==The Selections==
This part really is very simple and it will not take you long to find quite a few "False Favourites" Just follow the rules over the page.
1: Armed with either your daily newspaper or at the racing post website {Or Both} simply select the races with the most number of runners in them.
2: Ideally, you should look for handicap races which have 16 runners or more.
3: If you can find any, Apprentice races and women jockey races are very good for laying the favourite.
4: Once you have these marked off , simply go through them and pick all the "Handicap" races. These are the races that are best to concentrate on.
5: Pick out any handicap races that have odds for the favourite quoted as no more than 7/4.
6: The above horses would be DEFINATE bets, don't worry if there aren't any on certain days, simply go to any race that has 16 runners or more.
7: Some days you may find that there are no 16 runner or above races, if this happens simply look for 14 runners etc.
8: If the odds are 2.8 and lower, then these are DEFINATE bets.
9: Do NOT lay selections that are below 1.9 on betfair, although a fair few of these lose, a fair few of them win as well and that we DON'T want.
When sticking to the above you will have great success when laying horses, when also using a sensible staking plan BUT if you add the following few rules to the above then you will achieve even more success.
So here is my personal horse racing tips:
1: After making your selections, either at the racing post website or any daily newspaper, just check to see if your horse is a "Course & Distance" winner {Shown as CD NEXT TO THE HORSE}. If it is then DON'T lay it.
2: Is your selection carrying any more or less weight than it did in its last race? If it is carrying more weight then LAY it, if it is carrying less weight then do NOT lay it.
4: Is your selection stepping up or stepping down in trip? if so then you SHOULD consider laying it.
5: Has your selection either a lady or apprentice jockey riding it? If so then LAY it because they DO make errors of judgement.
Apart from the above to make this work you will also need a sensible staking plan, one that will keep your money relatively safe and make your whole betting experience an enjoyable one.
I use something quite simple and recommend you do it this way as well but you are obviously at liberty to do whatever you like.
I will take a £1,000 betting bank as an example:
Divide your betting bank by 200, so in this example it is £5. So a profit target on day 1 of £5 per race. I know exactly what you are thinking at this point..."Not quite as much as I was hoping for!!!"
Well, admittedly its not a lot but if you are aiming for say 8 such races per day, then £40 is not to be sniffed at, and remember this is only day 1, from day 2 your profit target may well be £6 per race. Trust me on this one, it doesn't take too long to get your betting banks built up enough so that you are aiming for £25, £50 or even £100 per race.
To put it all into perspective let us say that you achieve an easy 5 winning bets per day, that's an overall percentage profit of 2.5% DAILY or nearly 18% total weekly profit added to your betting banks or to give it a monetary value NEARLY £1000 profit in the first 4 weeks.
Take it to week 8 and your betting bank has now grown to £3800 and from there on in you will be aiming for a race profit of £20, or £100 per day @ 5 winning races per day.
As long as you look at any of your gambling activities as a long term BUSINESS venture, then you will achieve much more than if you look at it as a quick source of income to help out with any financial difficulties that you may have.
==Golden Rules ( The Real Horse Racing Tips! )==
1: After making your selections, either at the racing post website or any daily newspaper, just check to see if your horse is a "Course & Distance" winner {Shown as CD NEXT TO THE HORSE}. If it is then DON'T lay it.
2: Is your selection carrying any more or less weight than it did in its last race? If it is carrying more weight then LAY it, if it is carrying less weight then do NOT lay it.
4: Is your selection stepping up or stepping down in trip? if so then you SHOULD consider laying it.
5: Has your selection either a lady or apprentice jockey riding it? If so then LAY it because they DO make errors of judgement.
Apart from the above to make this work you will also need a sensible staking plan, one that will keep your money relatively safe and make your whole betting experience an enjoyable one.
I use something quite simple and recommend you do it this way as well but you are obviously at liberty to do whatever you like.

Arlington Million Day--- What Happening?--- My Analysis To Help Others Understand

I am going to go over the Arlington Million card that was ran last Saturday. While most of my horses did not perform up to my expectations, I have looked over the results charts and can see that the ones I liked best did not get the best of trips, either from the gate or in the stretch after they had built up momentum. I am in no way trying to find excuses, only ways that I can improve my handicapping and hopefully avoid repeating my mistakes again. While there is nothing anyone can do about tough or less than ideal trips, it is often the difference between winning and losing. I have been looking over results throughout my life but have never even attempted to post my thoughts or findings. But through the years, this is what has helped me the most and hopefully will help you if you really want to get better and win with more consistency.
Race 1: This race ran true to form but mostly because the outsiders had already proven they had limited ability and not enough upside to spring an upset.
Race 2: I bet the 1)Drilliant to WP. According to the charts(and my own watching. also), he dwelt at the start(means he hesitated while others broke on cue)and came out last which pretty much eliminated him from serious contention on a track that was still affect by recent rain. He had works that show some early speed was possible, but you never know how any horse will react when loading in the gate with others for the first time. And since he drew the rail, he stood in the gate probably longer than anyone and was not focused enough on the break. I look for him to make amends when he runs back, especially with another work or two, because his first start was good experience for a young horse.
The winner, Hide The Demon, was my second choice because I thought Drilliant was better prepared for his debut. But had I gone with bloodlines instead like I usually would, he is one horse that I would had hit. Everyone on here should know by now that I bet City Zip lineage a lot and this one had Tapit as a broodmare sire and was a pedigree that I should have never even thought about betting against. But I did. My screw up!!!
The second favorite at post time won and the favorite ran second as these two went around the track together, first and second the whole way while opening up a big lead at the top of the stretch on the all weather track that was still drying out from recent heavy rain. Exacta pd $12.50.
Another first time starter you may want to keep your eyes open for is the 3rd place finisher, Ship Of The Line, especially if he shows up in grass race at a mile or further. He is royally bred for that surface and his trainer will put him on that surface before long. And while his trainer can win on dirt, he is much better with grass performers.
Race 3: I bet Fifth Ace to WP in this race mostly based off his first race and his bloodlines. But he did not break as alertly this time and basically ran an even race. The most probable reason was the grass was still wet and he could not gain the traction he was comfortable with. But he knows? Maybe he face a better field and was outclass, though his bloodlines says it was probably the first reason. I am satisfied with this pick and will look to bet him again in his next start, hopefully on firmer ground.
The favorite and 2nd favorite ran 1-2 but the payoff is exactly why you will not see me betting this combination very often. $10 for a $1 exacta which means you have to hit too many of these to eek out a small profit. But the horse(favorite)who won came from last and the second favorite came from slightly off the pace to run second.
Race 4: I bet Southsider to WP, mostly because I though he had a chance to get an uncontested lead as he had just broken his maiden in a turf sprint in good time. However, he was beaten to the lead by a 13-1 shot who had ran against winners over a dozen times, set a soft pace and held on to run 2nd, beaten by the favorite.
The favorite track early from slightly off the pace, dropped back a bit mid race and then had enough to run by a front runner who had everything his way, including a slow pace. Ex Pd $24.50. Will not consider either one in their next race.
Race 5: I bet Take the Odds to WP as the 2nd favorite mostly because of his bloodlines and I knew his trainer usually has them ready to win early. His works showed he was possible speed but he was beaten to the lead by another first time starter.
That first time starter, Winning Envelope, had better works and just as good bloodlines, but I was not at all familiar with his trainer. He won the race in a laughter as the third choice at 5-1 and looked very good finishing in a fast time.
Again on a drying out all weather track, the two front runners went around the track all the way in the same position, but this time the front runner ran away. The third favorite with the favorite exacta pd $27.10. Now you getting into an area where betting well bet horses are worthwhile.
6th Race: I bet 3)Justenufftuff simply because of his bloodlines and the fact he was stretching out on grass to a distance his bloodlines should had favored. And this one was much closer to winning than his finishing position suggest. He was battling for the lead near the rail at the furlong marker when he steadied in tight quarters, losing his momentum, per equibase race chart(but I was also watching and I saw it too). At 41-1, I was definitely satisfied with the effort, just did not get the racing luck. I will bet this one back his next time on grass or the all weather track.
With the 4th favorite winning at 5-1 and the 2nd favorite running second at 9-2, this exacta should have paid more than $26.50 it ended up returning. I would have been upset if I risked money on those odds and that is all it paid. But this was the first race ran Saturday that indicated the track was finally drying out, though the grass was still listed as good. Why do I say this? Because the winner came from last and the second place finisher was 2nd last early and this is what grass favors as it is getting near firm again, especially since the pace was slow.
7th Race: I bet Diamondmaze to WP in this race. And he ran just about the race I thought he would. He sat just off the pace of the front runners in third early, took the lead turn for home, before being ran down by the horse just behind him and 2 late runners, including one longshot which I had picked as my third choice that finished 3rd at 38-1.
The second favorite(All Call) came from near the back to win and the favorite came from slightly off the pace(just behind my pick) to run second, key a $12.10 exacta. But unlike the last race, the pace was picking up and getting close to normal.
Race 8: This was the race that I wish I could have back. I bet Wile E Peyote to WP in this race and I can not fathom why I would bet an angle that I have always been heavily against. But I did. He had won his last race but was tiring and veering in enough that the stewards thought it was warrant enough for a DQ. The horse who finished second, was pulling away from the rest, making me think the winner was getting chased by a good horse. But I have now looked up that horse and seen he was a career long low claiming horse. the two best horses he ever ran against was Runningfromthefeds(second earlier in an O/C 16,500 race) and Maxus(won 12,500 claiming turf race in 6th race). This race was a stakes race.
All I knew for sure was I was betting against The Tabulator when I started looking at the race. His form showed he ran some fast races but he only beat 2 horses one race and 4 another when he open a huge early lead and was gone against weak fields. I knew he would not get that luxury Saturday unless they tied everyone else to the gate. Outside of him, there was two horses that had ran against ran reasonable in stakes races, the winner at 35-1 and the 2nd place finisher at 6-1.
The winner, Sir Anthony, was making his fourth start in a stakes race, the first three restricted to Ill Bred but had 2 seconds in those third starts including beating Wile R Peyote in his last stakes three starts back and the horse who beat him in his first two stakes races. He was then put on grass where he showed he did not like as he never picked up his feet on that surface. Returned to the AWT, he went around the first turn, became ranked, then bolted against Wile E Peyote in a N/W of 1 other than allowance race, per equibase charts, basically taking him out of the race. Trainer decided to replace a jockey who rarely wins with Florent Geroux and the results was paydirt.
The second place finisher, Nobrag Just Fact, had just ran 2nd against Sniper Kitten in a $200,000 stakes race, who connections thought enough of to try him in the G1 Secretariat S. Sir Anthony, reverted back to his style of racing at 2 since he was now fit and closed from near the back of the field while Nobrag Just Fact stalked the pace and went by as the winner was going by in his first start on the all weather track, keying a $327.10 exacta. Say what you want but this race was the most pickable big paying exacta on the card.
9th Race: I bet Ming to WP in this race and got odds that I wanted too. He broke slowly as expected but saved ground until the stretch before swinging out turning into the stretch, was full of run but blocked by a wall of horses. To me, it looked like the jock got confused and did not know if he wanted to go further out or back in and ended up checking, but was still beaten only 3 lengths. I can live with this as he outran his odds, though he did not get the best of trips which probably cost him a few positions. But not sure he would have beaten top two without the trouble, either.
However, the winner, Carrick, was probably the best bet of the day bloodlines wise. He only have 3 lifetime starts, winning twice and in his first stakes race, he tried to bear out early causing John Velazquez to take a tight hold of, then was trying to close in the stretch as the pace quicken but still did not give up at 1 1/8 mile. Stretch to a 1 1/4 mile, he was able to sit a perfect stalking trip and had enough to get by the favorite when asked at 38-1. His sire is Giant's Causeway who everyone has heard of but his dam, How Far To Heaven, is bred 3x3 to Danzig and 3x4 to Mr Prospector. Add in Storm Cat and Rahy and Roberto(from Giant's Causeway side), then add Forty Niner & Gone West along with Quadrangle(foiled Northern Dancer's TC bid in the Belmont), you are looking at most of the top grass sires in the racing game today. No one else in this race has that much grass influence. His trainer, Thomas Morley, is fairly new to the U.S. racing game but his uncle was a top trainer in England for years and he came to the U.S. on the recommendation of Jeremy Noseda, who he learned under.
The three horses that tracked the pace closest to the front runners ran 1,2,3 and keyed a .50 tri for $1044.65. The two front runners finished 8th and 9th.
10th Race: I bet Dona Bruja to WP and charts says she was wrangled back at the start, a term I never heard of, then check going into the first turn. But, regardless, she did not try and was never a factor, finishing last.
The race was pretty formful for those of you who like to bet favorites. Sistercharlie won as the favorite and her stablemates also ran 2nd & 3rd. Fourstar Crook , like Sistercharlie, closed and ran 2nd as the 3rd favorite, keying a $8.90 exacta. However, Thasis, set about as slow pace as you will see in a G1 on a turf course that was upgraded to firm.
Race 11: I took a wild shot and bet Twenty Four Seven to WP simply because I thought the favorites were suspect at the distance or not really ready to perform their best.
Robert Bruce won as the 2nd favorite and I probably should have considered him, but I knew he had never gone this far with success and his broodmare sire was a son of Lure, winner of 2 BC Turf Miles, but who never won past 1 1/16 miles. Almanaar, the third choice, only ran once in the last 1 1/2 years and the field he beat that day was on the weak side. But so was this race so he probably did not need his best to compete in here, just not a type of horse that I bet very often. They both closed a little further back that mid pack and they chased the longshot speed down who easily put away the favorite under a solid pace, but he, too, was suspect at 1 1/4 mile. he drifted out in the stretch, impeding another horse and was DQ and placed 4th, indicating he was tired. Ex paid good for the 2nd & 3rd choice coming in at $18.60.
12th Race: I bet Madame Milan to WP. She sat behind the front runners as they battle through modest fractions and look like a winner turning into the stretch before flattening out.
The winner, Secret Message, 4th favorite at 6-1, broke poorly as she has done throughout her career even though she has strong speed influences on both sides of her pedigree, closed with a rush and won pulling away. Pamina, the 3rd choice, sat on the heels of the horse I bet, moved with that one into the stretch, put that one away shortly thereafter and finished with good energy to be a clear second. The exacta with the 4th choice at 6-1 on top of the third choice at 5-1 pd $35.80, decent for those odds.
Whether you agree with me or not, this post is about helping others get a grasp on the art of handicapping. You heard me say it dozen of times, there is good money to be made in horse racing betting, but only if you are really willing to learn. And whether you choose to learn and/or keep following systems that will cause you to struggle, you will be using your hard earned money the next time you wager. I will continue to do as I have for 40 years and that is bet horses according to my beliefs. Some of my most profitable days have come after I look back on previous days that were not so good for me, and made adjustments.

Learning To Play The Ponies! Basic Facts And Angles!

I read where a lot of handicappers believe in the the approach of these so called experts. Most of the experts publishes numerous books and articles that are supposed to give you an edge to "handicapping 101". In most of the books, it may give you a hint of which way to proceed forward, but it is usually one of these writers methods that is usually hard to understand. Or maybe they are not considering every factor that should be considered. And they are charging you for information that you will not truly understand! Have you really ever thought about why they do this? Could it be because they are trying to re-coup the tens of thousands they have lost at the track? Or maybe their system(s) is not showing them enough profits that they feel the need to take advantage of the less informed. This is the reason I started posting on this site, to try to provide good information at no cost to others who may enjoy playing the ponies.
While I agree that there will be some that criticizes my method of doing things, there will be many more that at least tries to understand and apply either some of the methods I mention or at least do their own research to see if they can see if there really is a benefit!
Horse racing has always been about reading between the lines and coming up with the scenario you think will work out every race. Each race is different and has a different set of circumstances that you must either dismiss or accept the fact that it may altered the outcome of the race. Head wind, tail wind, cross wind, no wind, sunshine, rain, frozen, rail, middle of the track, wide, perfect trips, etc. can and has effected the outcome of hundreds of thousands of races. It is often not the best horse that wins the races, but the one that took the best advantage of the conditions he faced on that day.
Ever wonder why the top trainers in the country always seems to have the best bred, the fastest, the best conditioned, etc. and yet wins with around 30-35% of these types. It is because they can only estimate how a horse may be feeling on race day, whether that last work before the race was too slow or fast, whether the jockey and horse will be able to take advantage of the most track and weather conditions and so forth.
Knowing the trainer's methods and habits is often the best inside information one can gain from workouts. Most trainers will not ask their horses for their best run in workouts simply because they are trying to bring it out on race day. But some trainers will work their horse hard a week or so before a big race to "sharpen their horse speed" but this is more often than not detrimental to a horse and his physical condition.
Years ago, I had a list of 5 trainers that would give a maintenance work to their horses that was ready to fire either the day before or the morning of the race. These works would always be slow but it was an indication they were ready! When I saw on of these trainers enter any horse in any race, I would make my way to where the morning workouts were posted and see if that horse was listed. If he was, I was making a win and place bet, regardless of odds and/or time of workout, and key that horse in every exotic wager I was betting on that race. It often paid huge dividends simply by following such a simple method. It has been more than 20 years since I saw this angle as all the trainers that were on my list have since retired from training the "Sport Of Kings."
I have three angles that I use regularly that has resulted in more than a half million in winning bets through the years:
1) Speed to the top of the stretch angle: This angle was originally taken from a handicapping book I read years ago and I believe it was "Handicapping 101: A Horseplayers Guide To Betting And Winning At The Races", though I am not positive it was from this book. In this angle, it stated that a horse must show speed and stay within 2 lengths of the leader to the top of the stretch(thru 3 calls)before fading down the stretch. It did not speculate how far the horse faded but that he did faded. Since I already understood about the condition and sharpness of horses, this angle actually made perfect sense to me. I did not employed this angle right away, but I did start watching for this angle much more. And to my surprise, it was very accurate and produce many longshot winners because most handicappers look at it as the horse being in peak condition already and not eligible to improve. This is a major fallacy of most handicappers. Horse do improve from race to race and they do tail off after several winning races in a row (though a few will still win because there is no one entered that can improve enough to overtake him).
2)Third race back angle: This angle was mentioned by an expect handicapper during one of the many handicapping seminars that Louisiana Downs used to offered to fans for free every live day of the week when Edward DeBartolo owned the track. Again, I did not immediately employed this tactic, but did research on this angle and saw it would produce occasional winners. However, I notice a flaw in this angle and when I adjusted that flaw, this angle became much more accurate and also would produce at box car odds. The original angle called for considering all horses third race back, even the ones that was obviously tailing off. I tweaked it and would only consider horses that won their 3rd race back, then regardless of what they did their next race, they must have improve their second race or at least run even in mid pack, then I would consider and often bet them in their 3rd race off a top effort. I also no longer require the horse to win his 3rd race back, but he had to run 1st or 2nd(otherwise a top effort)in his third race down in his form cycle. I especially like using these types in exactas and trifectas but have often seen them win at big odds.
3)The fourth race back angle. Horses will often run for a year or two at a time without a real break from training. A smart trainer will sense his horse needs a break from the rigors of training and racing. His intention is usually to turn the horse out in a pasture and let him recoup at his own pace. Often this will be a period of 3-6 months before the trainer even considers putting the horse back in training. And most good trainers will try to race the horse back in shape because working a horse to hard too soon after a break results in more injuries than benefits the race horse. So, after three or four years of research, I found that the trainers that were patient with their horses, it was often the fourth race back that most horses reach their peak condition. And the importance of this is horses will usually retain their top form longer and more than repaid the trainer for his efforts and patience. Sure, there are horses that win their 2nd or 3rd race back, but most will go quickly back off form. The difference in trainers tactics will often be the reason why each horse takes more or less races needed to reach their peak.
I met one lady in Pennsylvania that would take in horses that had race track injuries or had lost their confidence thru many bad races on the track. She always informed the owners that it would be a minimum of three months before she could get the horse(s) healed or get their confidence back. And all she did was saddled the horse every other day and take him on a mountain trail at his own pace and let him enjoy the scenery. If you looked at one of the horse she worked with, you could see a big improvement in their confidence and even their physical condition. When she sent them back to their owners, many of these horses would win their 1st race back on track and most were at odds of 80-100 to 1 because of their poor prior form. At first, I thought she had to be "juicing" the horses but after see the trail she used, I realized it was more about condition than anything else. And she let them all do it at their pace, instead of forcing them to do it at hers.

Information On Different Types Of Tracks That Will Prove Helpful To The Majority Of Handicappers!!

You are probably interested in learning about the differences of each surface and how they pertain to racing. Each surface is unique in its own way and a small mis-interpretation of any can lead you scratching your head for years. I have picked up little tidbits of information over the years and while most of it will help, there may be a few pieces you disagree with or believe something else is occurring. Since I do not claim to know everything that happens in racing and never will, I am only giving my opinion and it is up to others to verify these findings if they disagree.
One of the first things I heard about is speed dominates on off tracks. While this is true, the reasoning for it was not but it was hard to really tell. And as the real reason began to emerge, it became obvious that speed would have trouble with some aspects of an off track. On a sloppy track, a speed type horse will dominate because they will glide over the slop as good as any type of late runner. The pace will usually be slower, there will usually be no pace battle which lets a front runner relaxes and take off at a time of its jockey choosing. This is the real reason you see many more romps in the slop than other types of tracks.
A long held myth about track conditions and most track managements leads you to believe is race tracks can dry out within a day after a heavy shower or rain because of their "drainage" system. After a heavy shower that last less than fifteen minutes, this could be true. However, after a rain where the track has standing water on it, it will take 3 full days for the track to return to a truly fast track. As the water evaporates and the track becomes gooey, the advantage that speed horses enjoyed in slop begins to disappear. The reasoning is those same speed horses that was opening up big leads can still do so, but they will have to work harder without any pressure to do so. The advantage is still theirs, because they are not getting mud kicked directly into their face and eyes. As the track turns into real mud, the track usually starts leveling the playing field. The front runners are still kicking back mud but it is not going as far as the gooey stuff was, therefore it rarely reaches a trailing horse face or eyes. This is when the track conditions starts favoring both off the pace types and the late runners coming from well back.
When a track lists their track as fast again, it still has another day or more before it is as fast as it can be. Ever seen two horses that normally works or runs about the same times time after time run a day apart after a track has been listed as fast. I have on multiple occasions and the horse that runs on a still drying out track will run a couple fifths slower than he normally does, while the horse running on the already dry track will run his usual time.
Ever heard that horse that likes an off track will like to run on grass? Well, if you haven't, you have not been paying close enough attention to the experts. But have you ever really wonder why? The answer is in their hooves. The bigger and wider a horse's hooves are, the more likely they are to like a muddy track and turf. These tracks are known for being slippery, therefore, a horse with large hooves will be able to get a better grip and have more confidence in every stride he takes. Have you ever been on slippery ground before and if so, what did you do to prevent yourself from falling? You probably slow down, took smaller steps and was unsure of your next step. Same with horses that feels the ground giving out from underneath them.
About thirty years ago, I met another handicapper at the track who knew all about a horse's hooves. We met on a day there was four turf races running on a firm turf. I noticed he was looking at the horses getting saddled, but then would not go bet. After about 4 races of watching him do this, my curiosity got the better of me and I had to ask why. His reply was he was looking at the horse's hooves to get a feel of how wide they were for the turf races. When the first turf race came up, I told him I like an 8-1 to win. He liked a 50-1 because he said the horse had the widest hooves and would grip the grass better than the others. My reply was he was the only 3 YO in the field, carrying actual top weight(not including his normal weight break for a 3 YO running against older horses) and his jockey nor his trainer had a high winning percentage. As I was watching the horses come to the wire, my 8-1 had the lead but someone was closing with a rush. It was his 50-1 shot who caught my horse a jump or two before the wire. I turned around and told him his horse had won the race. He just smile at me and said I know!! In the other three turf races that day, I watched as this handicapper cash tickets on a 40-1, 16-1 and 24-1 in addition to his 50-1. And he told me which horse he was betting before he actually did, each time saying they had the biggest hooves. It was this day that I realized that anyone willing to learn and apply what they learn could make serious money at the track on a steady basis. Unfortunately, I am terrible with people's names and I can not remember his.
Now, how can you tell which horses will like the turf better than others. Grass is the natural surface that all horses are raised on and therefore most should like the turf. The experts will tell you to watch for horses that make up a lot of ground on dirt. That is a half baked truth that will cause you much more money than it will make you. The real truth is most grass courses has tighter turns than dirt tracks, so logic says speed should have the advantage. And this is correct but not in the way most handicappers think. Grass is more tiring for front runners than dirt because the pace will be faster on average, speed horses that are tiring on dirt often finds the turf is kinder to the muscles and legs so they tend to last longer on grass than on dirt. Speed horses that are wiring fields on dirt suddenly finds that the turf lends a hand to the other speed types in the pace battle(due to wider hooves where they can plant their feet without it sinking several inches in the ground with every stride) and it is often them that quits first on grass. But the horse that wins most often on turf and normally takes a better liking to grass than others are slightly off the pace types on dirt. These horses tends to get the same pace battle up front through faster fractions and will have more confidence when he sees the front runner is spent and tiring with no more burst to come. If a front runner goes all out from the gate and open a bigger lead early, jockeys will try to slow them down and rest while others play catch up, but it is usually with little or no benefit. They will still tire when the real running begins.
Most handicappers like to bet front runners on dirt because they seem to be the fastest. But before tracks learned how to grade a dirt track using laser technology, they were some of the worst bets known in handicapping. And it was because they did not have help with other front runners types back then. Now whichever speed gets on the "good part" of the dirt track(whether that be inside, outside or the middle)they will enjoy an advantage that no others have. I realize a lot of you will think I am saying the races are rigged. But really I am not saying that at all nor do I believe that. Every track and its maintenance superintendent goes over plans on how to grade the track every year during the off season. They usually realize during the racing season where every problem lies and their main concern is to make the track safe for all horses. Some bias are made through human error but most bias are weather related. No track official or maintenance personnel can control the weather.
And the last thing I will mention is polytrack or all weather tracks. These tracks have a clay and/or limestone base. They are then covered with a plastic top soil mixed with dirt. A huge majority has a problem deciding which way is the best way to bet these tracks because they are always listed as "fast" regardless of how much water is in them. As a rule, most horses that like turf will also run well on synthetics. Horses that do love dirt will usually have a problem with synthetics. Why? The answer lies in the similarity between turf and synthetics. On turf, horses with wide hooves gains more confidence because they can plant their feet more solidly without the fear of slipping or sliding. The same can be said for synthetics. On plastic, horses feet will tend to slip and slide even with dirt mixed in and the problem becomes larger if water or moisture is added. If you went back and started checking, every expert has the top synthetic sires listed by who tends to have the most winners on that surface. The list is dominated by off track runners and turf runners, especially Mr Prospector and his many foals. There are some turf runners that do not like the synthetics, but there are many more dirt runners who would prefer another surface. And when moisture is added, the mud runners seem to come alive more than others.

)@ (Free) Sports Spread Betting (Coupon Code)

It's knowledge that will serve you well in the future.

Track Conditions-- Learn Who Benefits Most On What Surface Can Literally Change Your Luck!!

Track conditions and even surface changes can make all the difference in determining winners of races. The problem is there is very little information available that can give you a clue on what type of horses seems to benefit the most on changing track conditions. I learned early on that speed/pace types have a huge advantage on all off surfaces and that is true to an extent. But I really do not think it goes far enough and that is why most handicappers struggle on off days, including me.
Just like with breeding, each condition will point out the horse that will benefit the most and which will struggle on some tracks but not on others. For years, I simply blew off that there was no explanation for why horses would suddenly wake up on off going and produce a big race while a lot of horses running solidly on fast tracks would not attempt to run there best on tracks with moisture in it.
Even Dr. Roman put a stipulation in while he was developing the dosage profile system. At the beginning of the implementation, he stated a horse with a dosage under 4.00 DI and under 1.25 CD is bred to run 1 1/4 miles under level weights on fast tracks only in grade 1 company provided the pace was reasonable. And that is the main rule in his dosage profile and it was unbelievably accurate when he was running the program and making decisions on which sire went into what category, but none were allowed to be placed in more than two separate categories on a 50/50 split of 16 points. Otherwise a horse that sired 2 G1 winners would be considered for the category which at least two of his foals(or more) won a G1 stakes race at under level weights and could be split 8/8 if they won at different distances.
But other than that, I have not seen one study that split the off tracks, whether on turf or grass, into individual groups and there is a huge difference. I will reference several different Ky Derbies in the last ten years to prove this is a factor. All these replays can be found on youtube and you can look for yourself to collaborate or dismiss my findings. This is not meant to criticize any derby winners, only to point out how a sloppy track can and will affect the outcome of all races, including G1 races. The best horse does not always win but the horse that has a major advantage usually will.
First, Mine That Bird won the 2009 Ky Derby at odds of 50-1. He sat in last early while there was a speed duel in front but all speed was 3-4 paths off the rail on a sloppy track. Mine That Bird stayed on the rail throughout and moved to the 2 path only to get past tiring horses and then moved back to the rail, winning by 6 1/2 lengths. This derby, along with this year's derby, the 2010 derby and the 2013 derby, were the four derbies ran on truly sloppy race tracks in the last ten years and the horse that stayed closest to the rail the most won 3 of 4 of them. Two horses contesting the lead throughout and two came from well behind but on the best part of the track, with the exception of Orb.
Super Saver won the 2010 Ky Derby as the second favorite at 8-1, also on a sloppy track. He broke alertly and got the rail early because the three horses to his inside had no real speed. He, like Mine That Bird, moved off the rail only long enough to get around the tiring front runners that had set a fast pace and returned to the rail and won by 2 1/2 lengths. His main rival, the favorite Lookin At Lucky at 6-1, drew the 1 post. was bottled up on the rail and could not get any racing room until much too late.
Orb won the 2013 Ky Derby as the favorite at 5-1 and was the only one of the four that was well off the rail throughout. So there goes my theory, I suppose? Well, not quite, after you take a look at what happened with the pace. Palace Malice broke from the 9 post and Golden Cents broke from the 7 post and set a blistering 6 furlong pace of 109 4/5 in the slop, both while removed 3-4 paths from the rail. Oxbow broke from the two post, after the inside horse scratched the morning of the race(1 post left open) and he was the only horse near the rail and made a big move at the top of the stretch but tired because the pace was much too fast for his liking. Orb circled the field while wide but both his sire's dam and broodmare sire was from the Mr Prospector sire line, by far the best off track sire line in racing today. The second and third placed finishers were both on the rail throughout and got thru because most horses stayed several paths away from the rail. But the second place finisher, Golden Soul, broodmare sire was Mr Prospector, himself. He was simply a slow horse that got up because the pace was red hot, he stayed on the best part of the track, and someone had to run second.
Nyquist won the 2016 Ky Derby after it rain hard for about five minutes a half hour before post time, deeming both the rail and far outside not the best place to be. The track was still listed as fast, but if you go back and watch this race, his jockey breaks him alertly and secures the rail but half way around the first turn, his jockey eases off of him and lets Dazzling Candy have the lead and then moves his horse into the 3-4 path and chills behind a fast pace. He waits until Gun Runner goes after the leader inside of him and then his jockey asks him again for his best effort while still 3-4 paths removed from the rail. He won this derby at the top of the stretch when he opened 5 lengths on Gun Runner whose jockey opted to get on the rail after pasting the only front runner and started struggling instantly because the rail was dead(gummy from just a little moisture). Exaggerator moved up on the rail and got thru, but then his jockey moves him back out to 3-4 paths off the rail, and was closing fast but Nyquist was gone. The jockeys of the first two finishers in this race could not have ridden their mounts any better and thus the lowest paying exotics in many years were the results.
Always Dreaming won the 2017 Ky Derby, using an almost exact replica of a ride put on Nyquist the year before as the favorite at 9-2. He broke from the 4 post on a track rated as wet fast(good joke) and secured the rail until the turn up the back stretch when Johnny V eased him back and let the only other pace horse have the lead. He then moved just outside the pace horse into the 2-3 path and immediately went after the lead, securing it and pull away as they turned for home. Lookin At Lee broke from the 1 post and never moved off the rail until the 1/8 pole while others decided to stay at least 3-4 paths off the rail.
Justify won the 2018 Derby as the favorite at just under 3-1. He broke alertly and contested the early pace in the 3 path with Promises Fulfilled to his inside on the rail and waited for him to quit. Then he took over while in the golden 3 path and was able to repel bids from slightly off the pace bidders, Bolt D'Oro and Good Magic. They were the only two that even had a chance on that track to run the leader down and off the pace types usually stops when they make a bid but cannot secure the lead. Bolt faded readily and Good Magic gave his best effort but was tiring nearing the wire. But Justify probably would had ran slightly faster if his left rear hoof was not step on at the start and he looked like he started trying to keep weight off that hoof with about a 1/16 mile left. No way would I risk any type of bets on him in two weeks, regardless of what his trainer or anybody else says. Seen to many horses run bad their next out after a minor injury and it was obvious he was hurting late in the derby.
Now if you go back and look for a common trait on all these winners, there are a couple of characteristics that stand out. Mine That Bird, Super Saver, Orb, Nyquist, Always Dreaming and Justify all had Mr Prospector in their bloodlines and Mr Prospector, as I mention before is the top off track siring specialist in racing today. And with the exception of Justify, none ever won another race, much less a G1 distance race. It remains to be seen if Justify will follow along that same path or if he will break from the shadows of disappointment and start a new trend. I will probably pass betting on this year's Preakness, as I do most years, as the opportunity to make a decent profit will be slim at best.
The 1 path or the rail has been dead at Churchill Downs for years, especially on a fast track. The one and two post now rarely wins unless they can move over a couple of paths or tuck in behind the early speed and edge out to the 3-5 path before starting a rally. This does not mean a horse can not go wire to wire from the rail, but it simply means he has to be much the best to do so. The last horse to take the derby wire to wire from the rail(or 1 path) was in 2002 when War Emblem sat as close to the rail as he could throughout and won drawing away. And you can watch any race at CD since then and you will see a big majority of their winners raced in the 3-5 path, just far enough removed from the deeper dirt near the rail and before the middle of the track where the dirt is as thick, if not thicker, than the rail.
While I should know better by now, I still find it difficult to change my philosophy of betting late runners even when the track is sloppy. While two of my most profitable days came on sloppy tracks days, I still find myself overlooking the pace/front runner and obvious winner time after time. I went back and took a look at this year's derby undercard and I realized why I am not doing nearly as good this year compared to 2017. There were several races that was very pickable, including the $600K P5.
Limousine Liberal(4-1) won the CD Handicap for the 2nd year in a row on the same type of track in the first leg. I bet him last year at 13-1 in this race and he followed the exact same preps.
Maraud(8-1) won the American Turf on the soggy grass course and came out of the same key race as the longshot winner Funny Duck did. Maraud also is a 1/2 brother to last year's American Turf winner Arklow(15-1), also on a soggy grass course.
Funny Duck(39-1) won the Pat Day Mile in his first start on dirt since his first race when he ran an even race against wire to wire winner Promises Fulfilled. He also was a son of mud loving Distorted Humor and has the same sire and broodmare sire line as 2003 Ky Derby & Preakness winner Funny Cide.
Yoshida(9-1) is a son of one of Sunday Silence best runners and top sire Heart's Cry, and he had shown solid ability in every race of his career. His broodmare sire line was Gone West, a top siring son of Mr Prospector out of a Secretariat daughter.
Then Justify(5-2) won the Ky Derby and he was given a picture perfect ride by Mike Smith. He would have been tough to run down on that track, but Smith left no doubt that no one was taking this derby from him.
On sloppy tracks, front runners should be considered as holding a major advantage and will win for fun more often than not, especially if they have already proven they can handle the distance. The off the pace and late runners types will only have a chance if the front runners decides they do not like the conditions or the length of the race. The pace will often even be lively early, but it usually puts especially the off the pace types at a bigger disadvantage because they will have to run faster than their normal early to stay in striking distance and it makes their late charge less effective.
On muddy tracks and good tracks, the pace will usually not be as quick because front runners have to work harder to gain the advantage and if an off the pace type can relax and let the front runners duel, they have a much better shot of running by them. But late runners also benefits from two front runners racing side by side.
On yielding or slow grass, front runners will usually set a pace that makes it look like they are in slow motion but lets them conserve enough energy to be a late factor, but off the pace type are the biggest beneficiaries and big late runners are at a major disadvantage. However, late runners are a bigger factor on firm turf as the pace is much faster as long as their jockey can save ground and not lose several lengths by going wide. Late runners can still make up the ground loss but most stretches on grass is very short and this is why you see many flying late but running out of room.
But my biggest mistake was I under estimated how bad the weather conditions was gonna be. Every report I looked at from the weather channel suggested there was a couple of brief thunderstorms possible but they ended up missing the forecast by a full day. By the time they were predicting it to be over by, it was actually just beginning. and got progressively worse as the day went on.

Kentucky Downs Picks For Tomorrow Sept. 6, 2017. All Races Are On Turf.

Since a couple of people expressed interest in seeing the type of horses I tend to bet at Ky Downs and even more so on grass, I will post my picks for tomorrow races at Ky Downs. It has been a while since I bet this track mainly because the meet is over before I realize they are running. I have had some success at this track, and only the old Colonial Downs in Virginia is the only track that I have done better at on grass. The best thing about Ky Downs are all races are usually very competitive.
1st Race: Starter Allowance $10,000-- $42,000--- 3 YO & Up Fillies--1 Mile 70 Yards Turf--- I will take a shot with 1)Madaket Millie(10-1) to win. She is taking a small step up in class but she just missed in her last race. From what I seen of her trainer, he normally has his horses ready to run. 7)Voluptuous(9-2) will be included in my exacta box. She usually sits a couple of lengths behind the early speed and makes a run in the stretch. Her trainer Larry Rivelli has close to a 25% lifetime winning record, mostly at Arlington Park and the mid-west. 8)Super Wonderful(10-1) is the only 3 YO in the field but has faced conditioned type horses only in her brief career, so this is a big step up in class for her. However, she is on a two race winning streak but has yet to win on grass, though her bloodlines suggests she will enjoy turf. WP 1, Ex Box 1-7, Tri Box 1-7-8.
Race 2: Maiden Special Weight--- $130,000--- 2 YO Fillies--- 6 1/2 Furlongs Turf--- I will bet the 3)Gianna's Gift(8-1) to WP. Her sire, The Factor, was a speedy son of War Front who sires mostly runners that excel on grass, though The Factor did all his running on dirt and all weather tracks. Gianna's Gift also has turf influences such as Gone West, Storm Cat, Irish River and Nijinsky II in her female bloodlines to give her more grass speed. 1)Taylor's Wildcat(12-1) will be my pick to run second. Her sire is Tale Of The Cat, a son of Storm Cat, who is best known as sire of multiple G1 turf winner Gio Ponti. Her broodmare sire Friends Lake, a son of A.P. Indy, won the G1 Florida Derby beating early Ky Derby favorites Read The Footnotes and Tapit in the process. Taylor's Wildcat has 3 starts and finished third in all three on dirt and this is her first start on grass. Her trainer, Scott Gelner, is a much better trainer with his grass horses. 7) American Mission(15-1) will be added to complete my tri box. Her sire Mission Impazible is a son of Unbridled's Song and her broodmare sire is Medaglia D'Oro, a sire known for his top fillies. I do not know much about the trainer, Marvin Johnson, other than the fact he has won almost 2,000 races, apparently at small tracks. WP 3, Ex Box 1-3, Tri Box 1-3-7.
Race 3: Allowance O/C $62,500--- $145,000---N/W Three Lifetime Other Than Claiming/etc. or $62,500 claiming price--- 3 YO & Up--- 6 1/2 Furlongs Turf---I like the 8) Allidoisdreamofyou(10-1) to WP. He was claimed two starts ago by his current owner and given to Michelle Lovell to train. Put on turf in his first start for the new owners, he battled throughout the mile race and finished in a photo for second as the winner got a perfect stalking trip. Two good works six days apart and he should move forward. 4) Major Munnings(3-1) is the only 3 YO in this field but he has not yet seen another in front of him at any call. His third dam is Meafara, near wire to wire winner of the G1 BC Sprint twice, getting caught both times at the wire. 7)Stormy Going(30-1) will be the horse I will add to my trifecta box. He has shown speed in most of his races and is the only one that can pressured my second pick. WP 8, Ex Box 3-8, Tri Box 3-7-8.
Race 4: Allowance $140,000--- 3 YO & Up-- N/W 2 Lifetime Races Or 1 Race Other Than Mdn or Claiming, etc--- One Mile Turf---I will bet 3)Douglas Road(8-1) to WP. His sire is The Factor who has already produced several turf SWs from his first crop to race. His broodmare sire is Seeking The Gold, a top class runner and sire whose best runners were milers, both on grass and dirt. 8) Star Cross(12-1) will be my pick to complete my exacta box. His sire Looking At Lucky is a son of top sire Smart Strike who sired both dirt and grass runners and his dam hails from one of the top turf producing families in U.S. history. He is stepping up in class but he should be able to handle the rise with ease. 1)Next Shares(6-1) has good enough breeding but has yet to put it together. After a year and a half break, he showed in his last he needed more conditioning. Mott has worked him three times since so he could possibly step up his game. I will add the 9)Change Maker(30-1) is a small super box simply because of his breeding and the fact he been trying the jumps and this will be his 4th race this year and shortest distance. WP 3, Ex Box 3-8, Tri Box 1-3-8, Super Box 1-3-8-9.
Race 5: Allowance $140,000--- 3 YO & Up Fillies & Mare--- N/W 2 Lifetime Or N/W One Other Than---- One Mile 70 Yards Turf--- I like the 11)Drinks On Broadway(30-1) to win and place. Since her maiden win, she has ran against some better than average horses that would win this race with ease. Her sire is G1 SW Stay Thirsty but her dam, Broadway Gold is a 1/2 sister to G1 Florida Derby winner Dialed In and is the mother of 2 different G2 SW and G1 stakes placed fillies(including the Ky Oaks & Mother Goose S) and one G3 stakes winning son from five foals to race. 3) On My Toes(8-1) is my pick to finish second. She should be near the early pace, at least according to her pedigree and the fact her sire line is known for siring speedsters on grass. 9)Proud Reunion(9-2) will be my pick to complete my tri box. She has the two best sire lines currently producing in Gone West whose son Speightstown has been throwing top class runners for several years as has Harlan's Holiday on her dam side. Her sire Proud Citizen has also sired two different G1 Ky Oaks winners. WP 11, Ex Box 3-11, Ex Saver Box 3-9-11, Tri Box 3-9-11.
Race 6: One Dreamer S--- $150,000--- 3 YO & Up Fillies & Mares Who Have Not Won A Sweepstakes In 2017--- One Mile 70 Yards Turf--- I like the 1) Bonnie Arch (30-1) to WP. She looks like she has finally started to mature into the horse Ian Wilkes was thinking she had to potential to be. She has both Danzig and Roberto on both sides of her pedigree who both sired decent dirt horses but both were better turf sires. She has won 2 of her last 3 races including her maiden in her 10th lifetime start. I will use the 4) My Impression(3-1) to complete my exacta box. She is the class of this field and only needs to produce her best race to win. 10)Mo Knows(12-1) should be ready to return to form of late last year and will be a major factor if she does. Ward is known for his training of turf horses. WP 1, Exacta Box 1-4, Tri Box 1-4-10.
Race 7: Exacta Systems Juvenile Fillies S--- $350,000--- 2 YO Fillies-- 7 Furlongs Turf--- I like the 5)Go Noni Go(20-1) to WP. Her sire Get Stormy is a multiple G1 winner on the grass who banked more than $1.6 million, mostly at 8-9 furlongs. Go Noni Go's broodmare sire, Perfect Soul, was also a G1 winner on grass who banked more than $1.5 million and was Canadian Champion Grass Horse In 2003. 7)Our Graycious Girl(30-1) will be my pick for second. Her sire Macho Uno is a 1/2 brother to Awesome Again and he won the G1 BC Juvenile handing Point Given his only loss as a 2 YO. Her broodmare sire Mizzen Mast is a son of U.S. Turf Champion Cozzene. 11)Katie's Reward(8-1) will be my pick for third. Her sire, Warrior's Reward, was a G1 winning son of Medaglia D'Oro who is off to a very good start as a stallion and her broodmare sire Swiss Yodeler hails from major turf sire line Damascus. I will add the 9)Ultima D and bet a super in this race. WP 5, Ex Box 5-7, Tri Box 5-7-11, Super Box 5-7-9-11.
Race 8: Tourist Mile S--- $400,000--- 3 YO & Up-- One Mile Turf--- I like the 4)Dimension(20-1) to WP. He is a 9 YO but looks like he is returning to form and is the class of this field. He will be overlooked because of his age but turf horses legs normally last longer than dirt type horses legs because grass is easier on their muscles. 8)Irish Strait(2-1) has ran against the best recent class and should be close at the finish. I will add 9)Bandar(30-1) to complete my tri box. I believe he did not like the soft going on West Virginia Derby day in his last and can surprise by crashing the tri. 5)Western Reserve(6-1) will be used in my super box and probably would be in my tri bet if I knew more about his inexperience trainer. WP 4, Ex Box 4-8, Tri Box 4-8-9, Super Box 4-5-8-9.
9th Race: Fasig-Tipton Turf Showcase Juvenile S--- $350,000--- 2 YOs--- 7 Furlongs Turf--- I like the 1) Tigerbeach(10-1) to WP. His sire Treasure Beach is a G1 winning son of Galileo. His broodmare sire is Tiger Ridge, a 3/4 brother to Summer Squall. Tigerbeach's 4th dam Great Lady M is also the dam of multiple G1 winner Lady's Secret. I will use the 12)Renaisance Frolic(15-1) to complete my exacta box and would not be shock to see him win this race. He is from the first crop of Paynter who is a son of Awesome Again. But his dam's family also is producing some high class horses, especially his second dam who is dam of 3 graded stakes winners. I will use the 7)Northern Trail(4-1) To Complete my tri box and add the 11) Sky Promise(8-1) for a super box. Northern Trail did everything right in his last but bobbling at the start probably caused him the race as he recovered and battled a fast pace only to get beat by one horse. Sky Promise broke his maiden in his last and now moves up in class to compete against some good horses. WP 1, Ex Box 1-12, Tri Box 1-7-12, Super Box 1-7-11-12.
10th Race: Maiden Special Weight--- $130,000--- 3 YO & Up--- 1 1/2 Miles Turf--- I like the 3) Mr Compass(15-1) to WP. His sire Johar finished in a dead heat for the win in the 2004 BC Turf with High Chapparral and his sire is Gone West. His broodmare sire is Cee's Tizzy who is best known as sire of Tiznow, who has five stakes winning full brothers also. I like the 8)American Sea(12-1) to finish second. He probably has taken a little longer to come around because he fell over a broken down horse in his second career start. But his last two races indicates he is starting to mature as a runner. 10) Tapsolute(7-2) is my pick to complete my tri box. After 8 tries on dirt against some decent horses where he just missed in his last, his trainer Asmussen has decide to try him on grass. He has some turf pedigree, especially on his dam side, so a repeat of his last should make him tough to handle. WP 3, Ex Box 3-9, Tri Box 3-8-10.
Do not be surprise if several of my longshot picks wins. I was not expecting to like this many horses when I started handicapping this card but they just kept popping up. Now all I can do is wait and see!!

Rangers: Branches, Daily Life and Foregatherings

The humble Ranger doesn't get a lot of love in 5e. Which is a shame, because they really are a great role-playing class, with lots of flavor and interesting additions, if you take the time to give them the love they deserve.
2e had a great mechanic. They were called Kits, and they were roleplaying paths with some minor mechanics tacked on. They were, in short, amazing.
Let's make some NPC Rangers that aren't the same old boring thing!
So let's get cracking!

Domains

Rangers generally only cover one or two types of terrain their whole lives, and usually just one. If you want an idea of the types of domains they can live in, please check out this post.

Ranger Kits

BEASTMASTER - A wanderer, the Beastmaster has a natural affinity for animals; in fact, he has a limited form of telepathic communication with them. This is often the result of a magical bond with the Animal Kingdom, formed either at the time of his birth or upon reaching young adulthood. Unlike other adventurers, the Beastmaster does not command, train, or control his animal companions, rather they are his friends and comrades-in-arms. Misunderstood and feared by nobles and common folk alike for his unnatural abilities with animals, the Beastmaster seldom stays in one place for long, nor is he comfortable in civilized lands.
Role: Beastmasters tend to walk alone, accompanied only by the fierce natural beasts that are their friends and allies. Traveling the fringes of settled lands, the Beastmaster has small use for the trappings of civilization, but even less for the minions of evil, particularly those of a magical or priestly nature. Thus, a Beastmaster will often find himself aiding the oppressed or enslaved, and pitted against the cruelties of evil priests or wizards and their allies.

EXPLORER - The restless spirit of the Explorer makes him the most nomadic of all rangers. His travels take him around the world, as he continually seeks new lands to investigate and new cultures to study. No region is too remote, no society too primitive to pique the Explorer's interest. An expert in communication, survival, and anthropology, the Explorer's skills are invaluable for safely navigating uncharted terrain and negotiating with suspicious natives.
Role: Motivated as much by curiosity as money, the Explorer spends more of his time planning expeditions than looking for employment. Still, Explorers are in high demand as guides, mapmakers, and scouts. A reputable Explorer can demand a high price for his services. However, rumors of a lost civilization are more likely to intrigue an Explorer than the promise of treasure, and he chooses his jobs accordingly. Though a Pathfinder (discussed elsewhere in this chapter) or similarly skilled guide plays a crucial role in leading an expedition through unexplored territory, it's often an Explorer who's actually in charge. The Explorer decides when it's best to forge ahead and when to rest. He knows that small parties travel better than large ones, as each additional member increases the likelihood of delays from injury and disease. Above all, he understands the relationship between safety and self-restraint. He discourages his companions from taking unnecessary risks whenever possible. An Explorer balances his natural impulsiveness with healthy doses of caution and common sense. More of a scholar than a brawler, he is usually a reluctant combatant, resorting to violence only when all other options fail. But when attacking, he fights with a single-mindedness that can border on savagery. A seasoned Explorer counsels his companions to follow two rules vital to wilderness survival, particularly where primitive civilizations are suspected to exist: (1) negotiating is usually preferable to attacking; and (2) if you intend to attack, then attack to kill.

FERALAN - What happens to children who wander into the wilderness and are never recovered? Or worse, children who are abandoned by their families, left in the woods to fend for themselves? Sadly, most of them eventually succumb to the dangers of the wild. But a fortunate few are taken in by animals, raised as part of a lion's brood or a wolf's litter. Cut off from civilization, they gradually take on the characteristics of the creatures who adopted them. In the process, they become Feralans, beings who combine the savagery of a beast with the intellect of a man. The Feralan may look like a human, but for the most part, he acts like a wild animal. He speaks the language of animals and lives in their lairs. He leads them on hunts, defends them against predators, and considers them his family. Yet, the Feralan retains vestiges of his own race, characterized by his agile mind and an unshakable curiosity about human civilization. Many Feralans have picked up enough human language to communicate with them, albeit on a limited basis. Despite his bestial tendencies, the Feralan's moral principles are not so different from other rangers. He values the well-being of his followers as much as his own. He avoids needless killing and considers himself the nemesis of hunters who stalk game for sport.Greed and jealously are as unknown to the Feralan as they are to the creatures of the forest.
Role: Many people fear Feralans, wrongly considering them to be ferocious wildmen or savage werecreatures. Those who befriend Feralans, however, come to know them as trustworthy, noble, and even gentle. Still, Feralans remain wary of most humans and demihumans, finding their actions unpredictable and often incomprehensible. Feralans rarely volunteer to join adventuring parties. However, because Feralans are fervent animal advocates and protectors of the wild, they are inclined to cooperate with parties who share their concerns. While a Feralan's human companions may admire his courage and respect his instincts, they may find his beast-like behavior offensive at best, frightening at worst. After a hunt, a Feralan may drag the carcass of his prey back to the party's campsite and eat it raw, tearing off chunks with his familial followers. Personal hygiene is rarely among a Feralan's priorities, though he may occasionally lick himself clean. He grooms his animal friends by picking bugs from their fur, then cuddles up with them to go to sleep. When disturbed, he may snarl like a wolf. To celebrate victory over a predator, he may howl at the moon. He communicates in grunts, growls, and sentence fragments. He may disconcert new associates by sniffing them!

FOREST RUNNER - Wherever a corrupt or oppressive regime holds power, there's bound to be a Forest Runner. Forest Runners rise in opposition to such regimes, living on the fringes of society, usually one step ahead of the law. They're criminals only in a technical sense, as they adhere to a personal code that compels them to wage war against greedy aristocrats and unjust rulers. While the powers-that-be view the Forest Runner as a lawless troublemaker, commoners see him as hero, perhaps their best hope against a tyrannical government. Constantly on the move, Forest Runners live by their wits and have learned to make do with minimal resources. They excel in combat and make formidable opponents. Ever active and brimming with self-confidence, Forest Runners delight in harassing authority figures, particularly the pompous and well-to-do. Many a hapless aristocrat has been left bound, gagged, and penniless after a humiliating roadside encounter with a Forest Runner.
Role: The Forest Runner is usually selfless, resourceful, and roguishly charming. A loner by circumstance and not by choice, a Forest Runner readily allies with adventuring parties who share his outlook. As a champion of underdogs everywhere, the Forest Runner doesn't necessarily feel bound to his homeland, and may journey anywhere in the world to promote justice. Occasionally, he may join a party to acquire treasure for distribution to the needy. If the local authorities are putting the heat on, he may accompany a party simply to disappear for a while.

GREENWOOD RANGER - The rarest and certainly the most unusual ranger, the Greenwood Ranger, or Limbant, combines characteristics of both humans and plants. The Greenwood Ranger begins life as a normal human, but through resolute appeals to the gods, he gradually acquires plant-like qualities that enhance his relationship with the vegetable kingdom and endow him with remarkable powers. A Greenwood Ranger resembles a normal human covered from head to toe with a layer of thick brown bark, similar to that of an oak tree. The bark on the back of his head and the backs of his hands and arms is tinged with green; the green bark enables him to absorb nutrients directly from the sunlight. He has no body hair, no teeth, and his tapering fingers and toes look like gnarled branches. Tangles of short roots grow from his feet and ankles. Aside from these physical differences, the Greenwood Ranger moves, speaks, and behaves much like an ordinary human.
Role: Because he must sacrifice a portion of his humanity to become a Greenwood Ranger, a human drawn to this kit usually has only a tenuous link with formal society. He is an outsider, with few close friendships or family ties, capable of walking away from the civilized world without regret. Orphans, social outcasts, and eccentric personalities are good candidates to become Greenwood Rangers. Greenwood Rangers live deep in the forest or jungle, far from urban centers. Most people tend to shun Greenwood Rangers, repulsed by their appearance or fearful of their strange powers. But their distrust is unwarranted. Greenwood Rangers are gentle-natured, thoughtful souls to whom all life is precious. A Greenwood Ranger will mourn the loss of a favorite shade tree as much as the passing of a human companion. To the Greenwood Ranger, the wilderness is a glorious, sacred place. If necessary, he will risk his life to preserve it. In most cases, a Greenwood Ranger will align with any adventuring party who shares his affinity for nature, providing he agrees with their cause. A Greenwood Ranger tends to keep to himself, offering his opinion only when asked and deferring to the party's leader in most situations.

GUARDIAN - The Guardian is a self-appointed protector of the wilderness. Compelled by a strong sense of duty, he has assumed responsibility for an unsettled tract of land, doing his utmost to maintain it in its natural state and protect its animal occupants. Though he feels kindly towards woodsmen, elves, and others who share his respect for nature, he has little patience for those who would exploit the wilderness for gain or spite. A Guardian constantly monitors the region he has sworn to protect. He scrutinizes the activity of strangers, advises travelers, and intercepts careless hunters. He keeps an eye out for fires, floods, and other natural disasters, and does what he can to comfort animals in times of crisis.
Role: A Guardian operates of his own volition, having no official sanction or title. He carries out his custodial duties as he sees fit, taking whatever steps he deems necessary to protect his domain. Despite his independence, he usually maintains good working relationships with officials of bordering lands. The relationship benefits both parties. The Guardian notifies the officials of approaching armies or other potential threats, while the officials may provide help for problems the Guardian can't handle alone. Though many governments would jump at the chance to have such able warriors in their employ, Guardians resist all such offers, and steadfastly maintain their autonomy. An adventuring party entering a Guardian's domain has a good chance of encountering the Guardian himself. A Guardian will usually agree to guide a party through his domain and--presuming the party's intentions are compatible with the Guardian's philosophy--assist them in their efforts. Though a Guardian is reluctant to leave his domain, he may do so if presented with a compelling reason, such as the ravaging of a pristine wilderness or a threat to the ecology in another land. Guardians tend to be self-sufficient, clear-headed, and conscientious. They make excellent leaders. Though a Guardian may develop deep friendships with other party members, he always parts company at the end of an adventure, returning to his domain as soon as he can.

MOUNTAIN MAN - Some people find the lure of the wild irresistible. Having tasted the pleasure of life in its purest, most primitive state, these hardy souls reject the trappings of civilization and wholeheartedly embrace the challenges of the untamed wilderness. These Mountain Men (and Women) spend their lives in relative isolation, enduring uncertain climates, hostile creatures, and chronic shortages of food and other vital supplies. They couldn't be happier. The typical Mountain Man is robust, courageous, and uncomplicated. Book learning and formal schooling mean far less than self-reliance and common sense. Though uneducated by conventional standards, the Mountain Man has mastered all the skills needed to survive. He can manufacture his own weapons from the crudest materials, brew potent medicines from wild herbs, and doggedly persist in strenuous physical labor when others have long since succumbed to exhaustion. While hunting wild game and navigating dangerous terrain may be daunting to an outsider, it's all in a day's work for the Mountain Man.
Role: Mountain Men value privacy more than comfort. Accordingly, they make their homes in secluded caves or crude shacks hidden in remote mountain ranges. Many are nomadic, wandering from place to place with their possessions strapped to their backs, or carried by a bear or other loyal animal follower. They have little need for money, but occasionally procure goods from traveling salesmen or small town merchants, bartering with fur or hides. Even the most stubbornly independent Mountain Man hankers for human companionship now and then, which is one of the reasons he might agree to hook up with an adventuring party. Faced with a problem too formidable for him to tackle alone--such as an encroachment from an enemy army or an infestation of powerful monsters--a Mountain Man may seek out an agreeable party to lend him a hand. The Mountain Man speaks his mind openly and directly, regardless of who he might offend. Etiquette is hardly his strong suit, nor is personal hygiene. While some party members may find the Mountain Man's straightforward approach to life refreshing, or even endearing, most will probably view him as an unsophisticated brute, gruff and ill-mannered. Some Mountain Men have a crude sense of humor that compels them to play adolescent practical jokes, such as leaving bear droppings in a companion's sleeping bag.The Mountain Man has little interest in art or philosophy, but is a natural storyteller and loves to tell outlandishly embellished tales--often of his own exploits. He approaches combat much as he does the other elements of his life, attacking with vigor.

SEA RANGER - Though most rangers live and work on land, the Sea Ranger makes his home at sea. Whether sailing the ocean in a mighty galleon or riding a river's currents in a handmade raft, the Sea Ranger finds the world's waters an endless source of wonder. A sailor and an adventurer, he guards his watery domain with vigilance, and counts many of its creatures among his friends and allies. He has an extensive understanding of weather patterns at sea and of the behavior of marine animals. He specializes in combat, both on and under the water. He may be a member of a formal navy, an independent operator, or a mercenary. He may be charged with enforcing naval laws. Some Sea Rangers protect ports or fishing territories. Others serve as escorts for trade fleets.
Role: Sea Rangers have reputations as dedicated, sharp-minded professionals. As such, they are often sought by adventuring parties in need of their special skills, particularly when an adventure takes them to aquatic environments or they expect to face opponents of oceanic origin. Though Sea Rangers generally prefer to remain at sea, they travel on land as necessary to achieve the goals of their party. As many of a Sea Ranger's followers are waterbound, he obviously has less access to them when adventuring on land, a handicap he endures graciously but without enthusiasm. The environment has a profound effect on a Sea Ranger's attitude. On land, his party companions will find him hesitant and uncertain, following orders without comment and reluctant to offer advice. In an aquatic setting, however, he becomes a different person--confident, assertive, and commanding. Only the most stubborn or foolish parties will decline a leadership role to a Sea Ranger in watery terrain.

WARDEN - The Warden works for a noble, king, or wealthy land-owner, and is charged with managing and protecting a tract of land owned by his overlord. He keeps his overlord's land free of monsters, guards against spies and trespassers, intervenes when natural disasters occur, and sees to the welfare of the animal population. While a Warden may operate alone, making decisions as he sees fit, he ultimately answers to a higher authority. Areas overseen by Wardens vary by size and geography, depending on their overlords' holdings and interests. A Warden may be in charge of a game reserve or oversee a parcel of farmland. He may supervise a private park, or be responsible for undeveloped property in the mountains or desert. The size of a guarded land may range from a few square miles for Wardens just beginning their careers, to vast estates for high level Wardens. Generally, as a Warden's experience increases, so do the boundaries of the land he supervises.
Role: In most societies, Wardens occupy positions of modest status, comparable to those of mid-level bureaucrats or well-to-do merchants. Some are members of the military, but more often, they're aides to government officials or affluent civilians. Wardens tend to hold the same job for life. A Warden serves his lord with the loyalty of a good soldier. He tends to be fastidious in his behavior and strictly law-abiding, which also makes him a bit inflexible. To most Wardens, rules are rules, and there's not much middle ground. When an adventuring party enters a Warden's guarded area, he may agree to assist them for the sake of expediency; the sooner the party leaves his area, the sooner things will get back to normal. Conversely, a Warden may seek out a party to help with a particularly difficult task, such as ridding the guarded area of destructive creatures or locating a treatment for a crop disease. Depending on the circumstances, a Warden may journey anywhere in the world; he is not bound to remain in his guarded area. However, a Warden will not undertake any adventure without direct orders from, or with the express permission of his overlord. Other members of an adventuring party may find a Warden to be cordial but distant. A Warden's loyalties lie primarily with his overlord, not with his companions, and this can create stress for party members who insist on comradeship. Some Wardens are also prone to homesickness; the further an expedition takes him from his guarded area, the more anxious and sullen he may become. Nevertheless, a Warden's dedication and professionalism can only enhance a party's effectiveness. Many comply unwaveringly with orders from the party leader, offer pointed advice when needed, and fight courageously on the battlefield.

Daily Life

Patrolling

The ranger spends much of his free time patrolling his territory. He may follow the same route every day, or he may wander wherever his fancy takes him. He keeps an eye out for signs of trouble, such as eroded fields or withered plants, and makes contact with other sentient residents, listening to their problems or engaging in small talk. Some rangers ride mounts, particularly if they have a lot of ground to cover, but most prefer to patrol on foot, which enables them to traverse obstacles more easily, as well as minimizing the chance of drawing attention to themselves. Though patrolling is necessary to keep abreast of the condition of their territories, rangers also patrol for the sheer pleasure of basking in the open air and savoring nature's splendor.

Monitoring Strangers

A ranger is ever-watchful for strangers in his territory. Followers or other contacts may alert him to the presence of strangers, or he may become aware of them himself by noticing disturbances in the terrain or observing them directly. In most cases, a ranger monitors strangers discretely, watching them from the cover of trees or shadows, or requesting his followers to make regular reports of their activities. Usually, a ranger can ascertain the intention of strangers without ever making direct contact with them. Most turn out to be harmless travelers or hunters who pose no threat to the ranger or his territory, and the ranger leaves them alone. If a stranger's motives are more ambiguous--for instance, if he's chopping down trees or hunting animals beyond his needs--the ranger will confront him, politely but firmly inquiring about his intentions. Generally, the abrupt appearance of an intimidating ranger, particularly if he's accompanied by a bear or two, elicits immediate cooperation. If the stranger explains himself satisfactorily, the ranger departs, perhaps implying that he'll be back if the stranger doesn't keep his nose clean. Should the stranger resist the ranger's authority, the ranger may take whatever actions he deems necessary to ensure compliance, using violence as a last resort.
However, physical confrontations are rare. More commonly, strangers require directions, medical care, or advice. A ranger is usually willing to help, especially if his assistance facilitates their leaving his territory more quickly. If the strangers are lost, the ranger will point out the best route leading to their desired destination. In some cases, he'll volunteer to guide them. Most rangers have a rudimentary knowledge of first aid, and can bind sprained ankles, splint bones, and attempt to resuscitate for drowning victims. A ranger can explain which plants are edible and which are poisonous. He can direct strangers to sources of fresh water, orchards of ripe fruit, and safe campsites. In return, the ranger may well insist that strangers clean up after themselves, avoid disturbing local habitats, and preserve the natural beauty of the environment. Those who violate the ranger's trust can expect a brisk escort out of his territory.

Trailblazing

A ranger who occupies an undeveloped wilderness must spend a fair amount of time making and maintaining trails. Some of these trails may be permanent roads or paths, usable by anyone traversing the ranger's territory. Other trails may be known only to the ranger, concealed by dense woods or similar terrain. The ranger and his followers use these concealed trails to get from place to place while monitoring the movement of strangers. Although animals in their native habitats are efficient trailmakers, the ranger may improve their trails by making the footing safer, or linking feeding grounds, watering holes, grazing pastures, and lairs. An effective trail system requires a thorough understanding of the land, including the precise location of streams, hills, and other significant terrain features. A ranger occupying a small territory may be able to hold this information in his head. For larger regions, the ranger may need to keep maps. In this case, a conscientious ranger will regularly review and update his maps, adding new features and looking for discrepancies. Constructing a new trail begins with clearing debris and smoothing the ground. This may involve cutting trees, pulling stumps, and filling in holes. If a road passes though a valley or ravine, the ranger may have to dig ditches to direct rainwater away from the trail. He may then need to plant grasses along the roadside to prevent soil from washing into the ditches.
Trail maintenance is an ongoing chore, requiring weeding in the spring and ice removal in the winter. In exceptionally harsh climates, the ranger may have to build snow fences, which are constructions of wood or stone that run parallel to a trail. During blizzards, blowing snow piles up along the fence instead of covering the trail.

Wildlife Management

A dutiful ranger looks after the interests of the wildlife in his territory. He tracks down poachers and unprincipled hunters, relocates creatures that have been displaced by natural disasters, and cares for young animals whose parents have been killed. He notes fluctuations in animal populations and tries to determine if an excess of predators (or prey) is only a temporary adjustment to current conditions, or if it foreshadows a more serious problem. A sudden drop in the number of songbirds or frogs, for instance, may indicate that the insects they eat have been poisoned by some outside source.

Conservation

A ranger is dedicated to the preservation of his environment. He uses timber, water, and other natural resources judiciously and encourages others to do the same. If he cuts a tree, he replaces it with a new seedling. If he raises herd animals, he keeps them moving so as not to overgraze a pasture. If he farms, he rotates his crops so as not to exhaust the soil, replacing the nutrients with natural fertilizers. Unfortunately, the ranger must continually struggle against the carelessness and greed of those who don't share his concerns. They strip the land of timber and minerals, and level entire forests to build new cities. For commerce or sport, they hunt scarce species to extinction. They relentlessly farm the same acreage until the soil can no longer support crops, and dump raw sewage and other waste products into lakes and rivers until the water is no longer fit to drink.
The ranger employs several methods to counter this selfishness and indifference. He educates travelers passing through his territory, demonstrating the importance of proper waste disposal and the danger of smoldering camp fires. He negotiates with local villages to regulate mining and farming, and to set aside virgin forests and jungles as protected sanctuaries. In extreme situations, a ranger may resort to guerilla tactics, such as sabotaging oppressive and ruinous activities. A ranger must also be constantly vigilant for natural disasters. As prevention is the key to effective disaster management, a ranger remains alert for the earliest signs of trouble, taking immediate steps to intervene before the problem becomes a full-blown catastrophe.
Here are some the most common natural disasters a ranger might have to face:

Drought. Higher than average temperatures and a lack of rainfall may result in a drought. When water is scarce, rivers dry up, vegetation withers, and animals suffer from dehydration. Rangers can't accurately predict when droughts will occur. However, in regions of irregular rainfall, he can check tree rings, which give an excellent indicator of rain received in previous seasons. Thick rings occur in wet years, thin rings in dry years. Since wet periods tend to alternate with dry periods, studying the rings can help the ranger anticipate the next drought. A ranger can't offset the overall effects of a drought, but he can reduce the local impact of the drought on marginal habitats by storing water, and encouraging others to do the same.
Earthquake. Violent shifting of the earth's inner layers may produce earthquakes, which can occur anywhere in the world. Earthquakes can indirectly cause flooding and fires, but the biggest danger comes from avalanches, falling rocks, trees, mudslides, and collapsing buildings. As with seacoast floods, there's not much a ranger can do to prevent earthquakes, but he can learn to recognize the signs that precede them. Unusual animal behavior (such as the agitated prancing of small mammals), spontaneous geyser eruptions, and clusters of small tremors often indicate an impending major earthquake. While the warnings may not come long in advance, a forewarned ranger can spread the word to head for plains or open fields, which may be safer havens in the event of a major earthquake.
Fire. Fires are perhaps the most devastating of all natural disasters. A fire not only wipes out trees and vegetation, it also kills animals and pollutes lakes and rivers with ash. Travelers who carelessly burn trash or toss unwanted torches into the brush are a common source of fires. While lightning strikes are a primary cause of forest fires, some fires are intentionally set by enemies. Rangers occupying forests or other territories susceptible to fire constantly watch for smoke. Tall mountains make the best vantage point, but where mountains are unavailable or where scaling them frequently is impractical, rangers may construct lookout towers--simple platforms supported by long poles and nearby trees. A rope or wood ladder gives the ranger access to the tower. Fighting fires isn't easy, nor is it something one ranger can effectively do alone. Because fires spread so rapidly, particularly in dry seasons, a ranger's chance of stopping a fire decreases with every moment it's allowed to burn. Water or dirt can be used to smother small fires. If a ranger has prepared for help beforehand, he can coordinate the building of a fireline--an area cleared of all vegetation and other combustible material.This helps contain larger fires, but an adequate fireline usually requires the efforts of many individuals working as a team. Once a fire is extinguished, a close watch must still be kept for many days, lest a smoldering limb start the fire blazing once again.
Flood. An excess of precipitation, sudden snowmelt, or high winds producing strong coastal waves may result in flooding. Floods can wash away valuable topsoil, destroy trees and buildings, and drown the unprepared. Rangers reduce the severity of river flooding by planting and maintaining the trees and grasses in elevated lands. This vegetation controls runoff and absorbs melted snow, preventing it from running off into rivers and causing the water to rise over the embankments. Ambitious rangers with leadership skills will sometimes coordinate the local population to assist him building levees to contain rivers prone to flooding. This must be handled with care, as such rivers can silt up, causing worse problems later. Seacoast floods, on the other hand, are almost impossible to prevent. A ranger's best strategy for dealing with them is to become familiar with the weather patterns that precede them. With sufficient warning, a ranger can warn others to seek protection in the highlands until the storm subsides.
Insects/Disease. Infestations of beetles, locusts, aphids, and other insects can strip forests and pastures in a matter of days or weeks. Molds and rusts can ravage woodlands if unchecked. Old trees, which aren't as resistant to disease as younger ones, are particularly vulnerable. To prevent the spread of destructive insects and fungi, rangers remove and dispose of infested plants as quickly as possible.

Law Enforcement

Certain rangers, such as Wardens and Sea Rangers, may be charged with enforcing the laws of the local ruler. They arrest and punish poachers, patrol the lands they guard, and sometimes negotiate land use agreements with farmers, loggers, and others. If a royal decree protects a particular animal species, the ranger may be charged with enforcing it. Some rangers have the authority to act as judge and jury, allowing them to try cases on the spot and pass sentences as they see fit. Fines may be levied for minor infractions, such as trespassing, while more severe crimes, such as killing an animal from the king's private stock or picking fruit from the king's tree, may be punishable by death. In such cases, the ranger will have a charter or royal writ from the ruler.

Foregatherings

Though they generally avoid organizations and communal events, many rangers participate in informal get-togethers called forgatherings or moots. At forgatherings, rangers can exchange ideas, barter for supplies, and participate in contests of skill, as well as catch up on gossip and blow off steam. Attendance at forgatherings is by no means mandatory, but most rangers look forward to the opportunity to spend a few days socializing with others who share the same general philosophy and professional challenges. These are often times of much merriment and celebration. Old friends are greeted warmly and new rangers are initiated, sometimes with raucous practical joking. There are food and fun for all, and tests of skill and prowess to pass the time and take each other's measure.

Attending a Forgathering

A ranger can go through his entire life without ever hearing about a forgathering, let alone attending one. But chances are that sooner or later, he'll hear a rumor about an upcoming forgathering, or receive an invitation from another ranger. He may also notice strange symbols etched on trees or stones, intended as guideposts to lead attendees to the forgathering site (depending on how secret is the location of the meeting, a ranger might need the trail sign proficiency to translate the symbols). In most cases, forgathering attendance requires no prior arrangements. These gatherings are by their nature informal, and they are rarely interrupted by serious business except under the most unusual circumstances. Any ranger who shows up is usually welcome; rangers who bring extra meat, fruit, or wine to share are welcomed with open arms. Attendees are expected to supply their own bedding, tents, and food. First-timers may be required to perform extra chores, such as guard duty or trash disposal. A ranger may bring non-ranger companions with him as guests, providing the guests keep to themselves and stay out of the way. The ranger is responsible for his guests' behavior; should they cause trouble or make nuisances of themselves, both the ranger and his guests will be summarily ejected. It's unlikely that ranger will be welcome at any future forgatherings unless things are smoothed over.

Types, Sites, and Dates

There are as many types of forgatherings as there are rangers. Some are held in well-traveled forests, others in remote deserts. Some attract only specific kit types, such as Mountain Men or Sea Rangers, while others are primarily intended for specific races, such as elves. In general, however, most forgatherings are open to any ranger who cares to come. Though some established forgatherings occasionally change locations and dates, most are held in the same place and at the same time every year for the convenience of the attendees. Any open wilderness area, reasonably isolated, can serve as a forgathering site. Forests, mountains, and plains are preferred, as they give the easiest access to the greatest number of rangers. Because travel can be difficult in the winter, and summer can bring uncomfortably hot temperatures, forgatherings are usually held in late spring or early fall. Most forgatherings last from two to three days, but some drag on for several weeks or until the last few diehards call it quits and head for home. Specifics about individual forgatherings are hard to come by, since rangers tend to keep the details to themselves.

Activities and Events

As forgatherings are primarily intended as social events, rarely are there fixed agendas or schedules. Activities tend to develop spontaneously, continue as long as the rangers show an interest, and end when the participants have had enough. Following are a few of the activities and events most likely to occur:

Trading

Trading goes on virtually non-stop at most forgatherings, ranging from private transactions between individuals to dozens of rangers peddling their wares in what amounts to an open air market. Merchandise includes both the common (rope, saddles, boots) and the unusual (chainlink leashes, camouflage paint, homemade wine). Weapons and maps are especially in demand, particularly bows and quarterstaves with hand-carved designs, and maps of exotic territories that detail the newest trails. Rangers pay for their purchases in fur, food, and trinkets as well as gold pieces. Magical items are occasionally available, but many rangers are more inclined to loan them to needy comrades rather than sell them outright. Rangers who borrow magical items are expected to return them at the next forgathering. Being men and women of integrity, the borrowers rarely fail to honor their agreements.

News and Gossip

Information flows freely at forgatherings, and most rangers are eager to learn about the trials and tribulations their comrades have experienced in the previous year. They hear of marriages, births, and deaths, as well as followers acquired and abandoned. They learn which expeditions resulted in new discoveries and which ended in disaster. Rumors abound of lost civilizations, hidden treasures, and gruesome monsters. An attentive ranger may hear about employment opportunities or new hunting grounds. If he's lucky, an unattached ranger may make contact with a potential mate.

Training

The typical forgathering attracts rangers with a wide range of skills. Often, they're willing to give instruction to novices for a small fee or as a gesture of friendship. If he locates a willing teacher, a ranger may be able to pick up hunting or tracking tips, acquire cooking secrets from a master chef, or learn how to construct emergency shelters from an elder woodsman.

Contests

No forgathering would be complete without games and contests for rangers to demonstrate their skills and compete for prizes. Conservative forgatherings feature debates, target shooting, and knotting matches (where contestants see who can untangle complex knots in the shortest time). The Glass Eye Concourse and similarly rowdy forgatherings feature contests of a more physical nature, such as head-slamming (contestants butt heads as hard as they can until one passes out), dagger juggling (often done blindfolded), and bear wrestling. Mountain Men in particular have a tradition of rather intense competition. For example, Mountain Men enjoy a bizarre drinking contest where bitter roots, fish scales, rotten vegetables, and other distasteful substances are mixed with water; whoever consumes the most of this vile brew is declared the winner. Other contests common to orgatherings include horse races, rabbit hunts, and mock battles using swords and spears bound with thick layers of cloth. Winners are awarded silver pendants, hiking boots, or other prizes donated by the more affluent attendees. If donations aren't available, each participant puts a few coins in a pot before a contest begins; whoever wins claims the pot. Wagering is rampant for all types of contests, with rangers betting everything from animal pelts and dried meat, to arrowheads and leather gloves.

GATHER UP SOME GOOD OL' BOYS AND HAVE A BALL OUT THERE IN THE WILD!

Horse Racing Is a Mind And Thought Type Of Game!

He literally changed the way the game of baseball was played. In horse racing, statistics can also become a game-changer for you and the way you bet horse at an online racebook. Laying the groundwork for a mathematical horse race betting system means first making some general observances and turning those observances into rules. In this Horse Racing guide, we will be taking a look at handicapping.It is a massive part of the racing world, designed to offer more competitive races. Handicapping in the UK is a weights system designed to create a leveller playing field in having in-form horses carry more weight. 5 Important Pieces of Information to use When Handicapping a Horse Race: by Ed DeRosa. Brisnet.com Speed Ratings. The best last-out Speed Rating only wins about 30% of the time at its absolute best, but the Brisnet.com Speed Rating isn’t about finding the winner but rather who can win.. A horse with the best last-out Speed Rating who is not favored definitely merits consideration as do This method is obviously a conservative one, with its focus on only Daily Racing Form consensus selections and on win betting. The system is most likely to appeal to traditionalists like ourselves. As with the Each Way Sniper betting strategy, this is a horse racing system that is all about understanding the odds on offer and making smart decisions based on maths rather than having an in-depth knowledge of the horses. Read more about the extra place strategy here. Horse Racing 2nd Place Refunds

Betting Longshots Free Horse Racing Handicapping Systems ...

Need a simple yet effective betting system that will get you winning at your local track? Try the free Speed System. Let us know how it works for you. Need a free and easy way to help make your horse racing betting picks. Try this simple but effective points system. For anyone who's interested in horse racing it's worth looking at the handicapping system. Knowing how it works, understanding its intricacies and limits. In... Hope you like this system. if you are looking for more profitable systems have a look www.betfairatm.com Some of the automated bots, we have are https://winn... Betting longshots, the long shot system #1. easy method for choosing winners that works. subscribe for more great systems and horse racing information

The Mathematical Horse Racing Betting System 2020

A Few Races I Am Betting At Belmont Park For Thursday June 12th.