There is no rule saying you have to bet every race, but on days such as the Breeders’ Cup, you still might want to take chances on the races that you might not have the best grip on. If a race does come up that has you a little perplexed, do not be overwhelmingly tentative, spread with horses that you think could have a chance to get it done, and a price horse that could make your day. Last year ThoroughbredZone mentioned Desert Code as a horse who a good chance to win at a price and can be used on pick tickets. He did win and paid a juicy $75. That is the type of a horse you are looking for.

You can also play more than one horse to win in these races. This way of betting is good for long shots. It increases your chance to cash, and get that price horse you think has a shot. If you happened to have a horse you like a lot, and the race, either before or after seems a little tough to figure out, you can always hit the all-button. The all-button assures you of cashing a ticket if your horse wins. Generally, I am not a big fan of using the all-button, or wheeling a horse. However the beauty of the all-button is, if that big priced horse rolls home, you will have it. In these large competitive fields, it can be a good option. The flip side is, if a short priced horse scores, you probably won’t see a big return on your bet. I have wheeled horses in past Breeders’ Cups, and I can tell you, hitting the all-button has paid off nicely. You can either use the all-button with exactas, with your key horse on top, or in a daily double, or a Pick 3. I do not recommend wheeling two races in a Pick 3 however. That can be very expensive, and simply not smart. Or you can just relax and wait until your race or races come up. Patience is a key element all good handicappers should possess.

Deciding in advance exactly what your handicapping strategy will be will help you formulate bets in advance. It will give you an idea of how much the bets you would like to make will cost. Once you have an early idea of what races you like, and how you might go about betting them, you will have already given yourself an advantage. Variables that can affect a race will have to be taken into consideration on the day of races, weather conditions, scratches and so on, but having a solid idea beforehand of what you would like to do helps you in making bets. Pick 3’s and Pick 4’s are a great way to go on Breeders’ Cup day. They offer value, and a chance to get a real nice score if you come up with the right horses. You could also play the Pick 6 if you have a nice enough size bankroll or a group of friends who would like to do it. This is not to say a small Pick 6 ticket can’t win. Graham Stone won $2.7 million in the 2003 Breeders’ Cup on a Pick 6 ticket that cost only $8! And ironically the 2003 Breeders’ Cup was held at Santa Anita.

Finally, another thing you could do, is divide your bankroll and allot a certain amount of money to each particular type of bet you will be intending to make. Pick bets, win bets, exactas, trifectas, superfectas and what ever else you like to do.

If you are on a limited betting budget and can’t really afford to bet too much money, a 10-cent superfecta can be a good way to go. Large, quality fields, with many betting combinations can make a 10-cent superfecta a real good investment. Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic 10-cent superfecta paid over $1,000!

1) Decide How Much Your Bankroll Will Be

2) What Races do You like The Best

3) Decide How You Might Bet These Races

These are just a few simple things you can do to get ready for playing the Breeders’ Cup. Things change, bets change. No one is ever locked in to making certain bets. If something pops up you like, or something intrigues you, go for it. Breeders’ Cup day is truly one of the very best days of the year to bet the races. Quality horses, large fields and huge pools. There are 14 races, you will not cash every ticket, but you only have to cash once to get a big score. And most of all, enjoy yourself and the races. With a little bit of preparation, planning and patience, Breeders’ Cup 2009 could be one you will not soon forget.

****2009 Breeders’ Cup Close Up and Preview Coming****

He ran Curlin last year, knowing it was not a race he had anything to gain by running him in it and there was a good chance he would not run as good on a synthetic surface, as he had on dirt. He ran good on turf, but not nearly as well as he had on dirt. There was a risk—a big risk—and he ran him anyway. He gets a big kudos for that as well. He knows and understands that Thoroughbreds belong on dirt, not on some man-made, synthetic surface. Win, lose, or draw…Should a 5-million-dollar championship race be run on a synthetic surface in the first place?

Two consecutive years in a row some of the best horses in the country will be deprived an opportunity to be their best and/or take part in racing’s richest day, because of the surface. What’s wrong with that picture?

What about Fabulous Strike, one of the fastest sprinters in the country, if not the fastest? The Connections have already stated they will skip the BC this year as well because of the surface, and last year’s poor effort over it. Wait a second, what’s the point of having the Breeders’ Cup, if the best of the best won’t even show up because of the racing surface?

Don’t blame the Connections, blame the plastic. The synthetic surfaces have begun to impact the sport in a very profound way, and people in the industry should sit down and a take a real close look, if this truly is the best thing for the sport.

The World Championships of Thoroughbred Racing is going to be missing some great ones this year. It’s unfortunate. The good news it returns to Churchill Downs in 2010. It will be back on dirt, the way it should and was meant to be.

It’s time California finally starts to think about going back to dirt.

The good news is Rachel Alexandra is running, and she is running this Saturday at Belmont Park on dirt in the Mother Goose. And if one is close by or in the area, stop by. It’s free admission and the train is back. ThoroghbredZone will post pictures from Saturday, and have some other surprises are planned for Saturday. Stay tuned!

***ThoroughbredZone still thinks it is a strong possibility that Rachel Alexandra will be pointed the Haskell Invitational on August 2,2009 at Monmouth Park…We Will Know Soon***