Posted on 4/24/2008 1:19:32 PM

Wagering Online On Horses - WMD’S

The failed search for weapons of mass destruction put America smack dab in the middle of the Iraq conflict but the same kind of rush into that arena is something the California Horse Racing Board knows all too much about.

When the CHRB mandated the California tracks to go ‘synthetic’ they changed the nature of the game for the horse and for the horse bettor.

With limited due diligence, the hasty decision to change surfaces in California has already had some far reaching ramifications to the horse bettor, trainer, owner and horse alike.

Now, those that bet in California and race in California are stuck with it and it’s up to the best horse bettors to find a way to not only survive but to delve deep into the issue in order to find out the best ways to win gambling at this point in time.

Enter Bob Baffert, who has been a proponent against the synthetic for some time.

Bettors can look to his quotes in a recent interview with Bloodhorse to attempt to evaluate his thoughts on the subject and then transfer his opinions into cash.

When asked about how bettors should approach handicapping synthetic surfaces and specifically Del Mar, Baffert replied: “I think turf horses tend to do better over synthetics. Synthetic tracks seem to change from race to race depending on the weather conditions so often times you can’t rely on whether they are winning up front or off the pace. I find that jockeys ride synthetics differently as well. A lot of them ride the track more so than their horse.”

These are some valid points especially about the weather conditions. Horse bettors with long memories only need to remember that last year at Del Mar the track in the morning, when it was cooler and a cloud layer was present, was totally different than the track in the afternoon, when the sun broke through and the track slowed down considerably.

The point about the riders is also valid. Just like horse bettors, jockeys are well aware of the track bias and where they want to be in the race to give them the best chance at winning.

Some of Baffert’s winning style has been taken away by the new surfaces. On the conventional tracks, Baffert always let his horses roll but now, the tracks are just not conducive to fast times.

Baffert: “Good horses will work fast. I buy most of my own stock and I gravitate toward a fast, athletic horse. I like to get a good bottom on my horses before they start, because I believe a good horse that’s not fit has a greater chance of getting hurt because they tend to give you a hundred ten percent on the track. My horses work fast, but gallop more slowly. Some trainers do the opposite. It's worked for me for over 30 years.”

As far as the numbers are concerned, they don’t lie in regard to Baffert and it may be wise to tread lightly with his stock until he re-arranges his stable.

Last year Baffert, generally a 25% or 28% trainer, was only 17% for the year and so far at Anita this meet, he’s popping at only 11%.

Cagey horse bettors have to live and learn and don’t bet Bob Baffert horses expecting that they will perform exactly the way they did in prior years.

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