Tag Archives: betting strategy

Emerald Downs Super Stakes Day Picks for June 21, 2026

Our Emerald Downs Super Stakes Day picks for Sunday, June 21, 2026, focus on one of the biggest early-season programs of the meet. Emerald Downs is promoting the card as Father’s Day / Super Stakes Day, with four stakes races anchoring the afternoon: the Seattle Stakes, Auburn Stakes, Hastings Stakes, and Budweiser Stakes. First post […]

Ohio Derby Day 2026 Picks: Today’s Racing Digest Full-Card Analysis

Ohio Derby Day 2026 Picks headline one of the biggest afternoons of racing in the Midwest as Thistledown hosts its signature event along with a full card packed with betting opportunities. At Today’s Racing Digest, we view days like this differently than a typical race card. The Ohio Derby may be the featured attraction, but […]

Black-Eyed Susan Stakes 2026 Picks at Laurel

By Jarrod Horak The Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes goes as Race 13 at Laurel Park on Friday, May 15, and this year’s renewal drew an interesting field of developing three-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the main track. With a $300,000 purse on the line, this race gives several improving runners a chance […]

Lexington Stakes 2026 Preview at Keeneland

By Jarrod Horak I’m diving into the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, run Saturday, April 11 as Race 10. It’s a $400,000 event for three-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the main track, offering 20 Kentucky Derby points to the winner. Despite the points on offer, this race likely won’t produce a Derby qualifier. […]

Arkansas Derby 2026 Picks & Analysis

By Jarrod Horak I’m breaking down the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, a $1.5 million Kentucky Derby points race at 1 1/8 miles. This race consistently produces serious Derby contenders, and this year’s field brings a mix of proven stakes runners and lightly raced upside types. From a pace perspective, Redland Rebels figures […]

Oaklawn Park Fantasy Stakes 2026 Analysis

By Jarrod Horak The Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park is the next Kentucky Oaks prep race on the calendar. With a $1 million purse and 200 total Oaks qualifying points on the line, this mile-and-a-sixteenth test for three-year-old fillies drew a compact field of six headed by even money favorite Explora. I broke […]

Common Horse Racing Handicapping Myths (and What to Do Instead)

Horse racing is packed with “rules” that get repeated so often they sound true — even when they’re not.  This Handicapping 101 guide breaks down several common misconceptions and replaces them with practical, bettable ways to think about pace, figures, maidens, jockey moves, and more. Why Myths Stick Around Handicapping has evolved through decades of […]

Pegasus Day at Gulfstream Park Picks and Analysis

Gulfstream Park Pegasus Day Full Card Analysis & Track Profile

Pegasus Day at Gulfstream Park stands as one of the most important wagering cards of the winter season. What began as a bold experiment with the launch of the Pegasus World Cup has evolved into a full-day showcase featuring elite dirt runners, international turf stars, and deep supporting stakes that test every aspect of modern […]

Race Class Levels (RCL) with Today’s Racing Digest

By Jarrod Horak In this how to use Today’s Racing Digest video, I discuss how to use Race Competition Levels to make money at the racetrack. I use the Today’s Racing Digest Complete Digest at Del Mar on Sunday, November 30 as examples. RACE COMPETITION LEVELS (RCL) makes it easy to handicap any class level […]

Fractional Charting 101 — A Practical Guide to Reading the Race (Video Tutorial)

Overview:Betting the highest speed figure is easy—and over time it usually loses because the public sees the same number. Fractional Charting from Today’s Racing Digest looks forward, not backward. It projects how today’s race is likely to unfold: early pace, likely leaders, closing strength, and an expected final time for each contender. That’s information you […]