January 2011 Harness Racing News; Jeff Gural interviews

North American Standardbred Pacing and Trotting News

Alexie Mattoosie and Bettor Sweet dead heat in 1.49.4 in Presidential


Tim Tetrick nears 6,000th win, will break age record held by Walter Case Jr


Twin B Warrior wins Willowdale Stakes at Woodbine


Trainer Brent McGrath buys Somebeachsomewhere colt




YouTube.com videos of new Meadolands investor Jeff Gural


Meadowlands Racing interview with Jeff Gural, Part One:







Meadowlands Racing interview with Jeff Gural, Part Two:

For PEI'ers, and those who love Prince Edward Island

One of the aspects I love about publishing this Harness Horses Info blog is the recent visitors Live Traffic Feed app that shows us (see below and sidebar) all where the website visitors come from. You can see it on the right side column of all posts, however if you've never actually focused on it, please do have a look:




















One thing I enjoy is seeing that my dad was on the blog, and I also believe it really shows how far our industry spreads around the world, as we have a variety of visitors from Canada, the USA, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Most of all, i love seeing Charlottetown or Summerside PE show up on the list.

The thing is, I'm Boo Trainor's kid (okay, his 50+ son...), and even though i grew up in Southern Ontario, Prince Edward island is a valued "homeland" to me and my family. As my mom is from New Brunswick, a trip Down East is always a pleasure.

This past summer we had a Trainor Clan Family Reunion in PEI (and also celebrated my Aunt Mary's 90th Birthday!), and here's a pic of the hayride we took on my cousin's dairy farm:



Starting with the elegant gal in purple in the front, then moving clockwise:

Cousin Pat, Daphne (my Mother-in-law), David (my son), Aaron (my other son), Matthew (nephew), Sharon and Andrew (sister-inlaw and her husband), Pat and Brian's granddaughter, Brian, Jessica (niece), Rebecca (my daughter), Leah (niece), Joe trainor (myself) and coudin Allan with the camera!

I will do my best to continue posting harness racing stories of relevance to PEI (eg Mark MacDonald) and if any readers have any requests, please post them in the Comments section below.


Peace 2 All,

Joe



ps - Anybody missing PEI? Click on the 2nd link below and you'll be back in downtown Charlottetown, in real time!

Live webcam images from Confederation Bridge, PEI

Live online video camera feed from downtown Charlottetown PEI

CBC webcam view of bridge to Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island Road Conditions / PEI Traffic Cameras website

Jamieson wins both elims; Great Willowdale Finals drive opens up

Jody Jamieson piloted Sparky Mark to a 1.52.3 victory and also drove home Good Bad Lucky to his win in 1.51.2, taking both ends of the Willowdale Stakes eliminations for 4-year-old pacers.

Considering the race times and the fact that Canada's top trainer of recent months, David Menary, handles Good Bad Lucky, it would seem that horse will be Jody's choice. Now if that turns out to be the case, then some lucky soul will get the trip behind Sparky Mark.

Mark Macdonald won with Sparky Mark in his most recent start, so Mark Austin is likely to look to him first. With Cactus Jack finishing last in his elim, look for the Marks to team up in the Willowdale Stakes Final next Saturday, January 22nd, and give the David Menary - Jody Jamieson combo a proper challenge.

Post Positions for Willowdale Stakes Final at Woodbine:

1) Jackets Required
2) Twin B Warrior
3) Good Bad Lucky
4) Sparky Mark
5) Malicious
6) Village Beaet
7) Art Professor
8) Here We Go Again
9) Aled Hanover
10) Oakmont

Best of Harness Horses Info Blog; 2010

I realize it can sometimes be difficult to find a post from an earlier month, so please find below some of my fave posts from 2010.

Racing

Casie Coleman and Mark Macdonald win NA Cup with Sportswriter

Doug McNair youngest driver to win 1,000 standardbred races


Breeding

Top standardbred sires of 2010

Standardbred Pacing sirelines 101

Standardbred Trotting Sire Lines 101

Standardbred Stallions of the Year - 2010 Pacing and Trotting

Valley Victory trotting sire lines

Western Hanover versus Artsplace versus Cam Fella


Maritimes / PEI

Photos and Videos of Somebeachsomewhere weanlings and yearlings

Mark Macdonald responds to Driver of Year nominations controversy

Handicapping experiment is over; For now!

Alrighty good folks, I screwed up yet again. I spread the roll over 6 horses yesterday, and only the 2 least bet won their races, so I once again ran into losses.

Here's the rub: Unless I can learn to bank my winnings for future weak periods / slumps, attempting to refine a workable system will remain a mug's game, as i have not yet mastered the cash management discipline required for a strategy to be consistently profitable. For the most part my main choices have been finishing first or second, yet I have managed to dwindle a significant stake down to... well, zero.

Let's take a few days off to study what were my best and worst bets over the past few weeks (I did manage to make a $70 stake last a month, so I guess I achieved something there), and possibly rebuild from there.

My son David won leaf tickets at his company's Christmas party so he and I are off to see the Toronto Maple Leafs host the St. Louis Blues at the Air Canada Centre this evening; should be fun!!!

How to bet the winner and still lose money

Okay gentlemen and ladies, here is a prime example of how bad habits can be hard to break. My new focus as a handicapper is to key in on one horse, placing half or more of the daily roll on this finely-placed specimen. Find a strong standardbred in a weak field and play it every which way you can. Well, I screwed up, but my horse sure didn't.

In a spectacular finish, Windsong Farewell came trotting up a storm to edge School Spirit by a nose.

Here are my bets and the payouts:

Windsor, Race 5, $20.00 WIN 8 $27.00 $20.00

Windsor, Race 5, $2.00 EXA 8 / 2-5 $0.00 $8.00

Windsor, Race 5, $1.00 TRI 8 / 3 / 2,4-7 $0.00 $5.00

Windsor, Race 5, $0.20 SFC 8 / 3,4 / 2-5 / 2-6 $0.00 $3.60
(F8746)

Windsor, Race 4, $0.20 PK4 2,3,5 / 8 / 1,3,9 / 1,4,5,7 $0.00 $7.20
(F2-8-2-5)


Here's where I went wrong:

Though my top pick has now won 6 of the past 7 days, I only invested $43.80 in today's top choice, out of perhaps $150 worth of wagers. If another 25 or 30 or even 40 of that had been put here, I would have possibly cashed exactor, superfecta and pick 4, though I still would have likely missed the tri, with the 7 in the 2nd spot.


Now, what am I gonna do about it?

Okay, I have already identified 3 strong entries for tomorrow, and will likely find a couple more when all the numbers are in, so maybe start with five max. Allocate half to the best situated, twenty percent to the next one, and about ten percent each to the 3rd, 4th and 5th best-placed.

Stay tuned.

Can a racehorse change a man's life?

Indeman delivers at Western Fair Raceway!!!


In my post yesterday, entitled 2011 Betting Strategy - One-horse daily focus, I mentioned that my emphasis going forward would be to key in on one horse per day and ensure that half or more of the bankroll is devoted to that particular equine.

Indeman went off ad the fave in Race 10 at Western Fair raceway last night, and here are my tickets, the return, and the cost:

Western Fair, Race 10, $20.00 WIN 3 $34.00 $20.00

Western Fair, Race 10, $5.00 EXA 3 / 2 $15.50 $5.00

Western Fair, Race 10, $2.00 TRI 3 / 2 / 1,4-6 $42.20 $8.00

Western Fair, Race 10, $1.00 TRI 3 / 2,6 / 1,2,4-6 $21.10 $8.00

Western Fair, Race 10, $0.20 SFC 3 / 2 / 1,4-7 / 1,4-7 $9.08 $4.00

Western Fair, Race 10, $0.20 SFC 2,3 / 2,3 / 1,4-6 / 1,4-6 $9.08 $4.80

Western Fair, Race 9, $0.20 PK4 4,5 / 3 / 2,5,6,8 / 1,4,5,7 $0.00 $6.40


I believe that adds up to about $56.40 invested, and $131 returned. Now, my top pick will not win every day, however, considering it HAS won 5 of the past 6 days, this new focus could finally transform me into a consistently winning handicapper. The problem has been too much dilution, too many bets. If I can muster up enough discipline to concentrate wagers on only the very best prospects, 2011 and beyond may be very rewarding!!!

Peace 2 All, and Many Happy Returns in 2011!!!

2011 Betting Strategy - One-horse daily focus

After reviewing bets made in recent weeks, it has become evident that the more wagers I make on a particular day, the less chance of scoring a profit. Over the next few weeks I will try to place at least half of the daily roll on ONE trotter or pacer, and the new game starts today.

I have found a horse racing tonight, and I have been able to make the following focused bets:

$20 Win
$5 Exactor straight
$2 Triactor part-wheel
$1 Triactor part-wheel
.20 Superfecta part-wheel
.20 Pick 4

It all adds up to about 54.20 (with no scratches) and tomorrow I will post the name of the horse, plus the returns, if any!


Peace 2 All,


Joe