Posted on
12/6/2007 6:05:21 PM
Horse Betting Trends – Sulky Situations
By Brian Mulligan
Betting the sulkys, in other words harness racing, is a whole new breed of speculation but sharp horse bettors are just as excited in this sport as with the flats.
There are many betting opportunities to wager on harness horses from the legendary Red Mile in Lexington Kentucky to Freehold Raceway in New Jersey, where I cut my teeth when a fledgling to the Meadowlands and Yonkers in New York.
The first thing bettors will realize is that harness runners go a lot slower than thoroughbreds. They also race more frequently and consistency among the sulkys is one of the more important betting aspects.
Just like in the flats, classy runners are consistent and able to hold their form longer. Since harness horses can race every 5 or 7 days in most cases, they have to prove to be stout and well conditioned.
The bettor must also know the levels of class that a runner has performed at in the past.
A conditioned race is an event based on age, sex, money won or races won.
A claiming race is obviously an event where a runner can be purchased.
An invitational, also known as a preferred or open race, is a contest for the fastest horses on the grounds and can sometimes be invitational only.
Breeders and sire stakes are not unlike the Breeders’ Cup races for thoroughbreds as runners are nominated before the year of racing.
Clever bettors in the sulky game know that the human connections stir the drink and we are talking owners and trainers. Often, they are the same person and there are some drivers that just dominate meets.
Unlike thoroughbreds, where jockey colonies are often very competitive and hard fought, there are just some dominant sulky drivers that are heads and above the rest.
Back in the day, the name of Shelly Goudreau comes to mind. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame almost 25 years ago and was so good that bettors started pronouncing his name like GODreau.
He always seemed to be in the right spot at the right time and the good drivers on any circuit are the same way.
Now the cream of the crop answers to the name of John Campbell. Just last weekend he became the first harness driver to surpass $250 million in career earnings and when he drives, bettors have to pay attention.
Cagey gamblers know that post positions in thoroughbreds are a factor you have to consider, but in harness racing it can be pivotal.
A lot of tracks are abbreviated and there is a great advantage to being drawn inside. If a harness horse has speed but in his recent prior races has been out in posts 6 through 8 and tonight draws post one or two, he is an automatic threat to win it all no matter what his current form.
Trips, bad journeys, are things that clever horse bettors really pay attention to in the harness game. If a horse can overcome a parked, racing outside of horses, trip that runner will be double tough the next time if he is drawn better and figures to get an inside run.
The final factor cagey harness bettors key in on is the drop. In thoroughbreds there is a lot of equine poker going on with claiming horses but if a harness horse drops a level or two, he is eligible to really have a complete turn around in form.
If a bettor is new to the harness game, it can be wise to tread lightly, don’t bet the mortgage, but dabble on the Internet or at the track until one feels comfortable with the idiosyncrasies of the game.
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