I am happy to begin my relationship with Thoroughbred Analytics.

I am best known to horseracing fans as the creator of Sh*t Horseplayers Say. Here’s the originalvideo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks_1wwaG2CM

As an avid and obsessive fan of horse racing, I certainly have my opinions, but this blog is not primarily about giving out winners. (Thoroughbred Analytics has a proprietary computer model designed to do a better, more comprehensive job of that.) Still, I realize that horseplayers like to view a racecard as a series of puzzles to be solved. No matter how much objective data we are presented, we want the satisfaction of making our own decisions about how that data will play out during the race. Each race is individual, and while the parameters of a computer model can help narrow down the field, your individual observations may make the difference. I see my role here more as offering perspectives on approaching the puzzles, rather than telling you where to place the pieces.

As handicappers, we have all likely been exposed to various “angles” for picking winners. But just because you’re aware of an angle, doesn’t mean you’ll remember it when it’s applicable. Sometimes the forest overwhelms the specific trees, and it’s easy to overlook an obvious indicator staring us right in the face. I hope this blog helps to keep these considerations alive in your mind, to apply when you need them.

Also, due to the breadth of Thoroughbred Analytics’ information, it is important to consider approaches that can be applied not only to the major tracks, but also to your home track. So, while I may give examples from high profile races, they can usually offer insight no matter where you are playing.

Happy racing,

Steve Brady