It will be quite a month of May for horse racing enthusiasts. First, in the state of Kentucky, in USA, the Derby will take place on the 4^th of May. Meanwhile, in Newmarket (UK), the flat season keeps gathering in pace, as the first Classic of the season is almost within touching distance. The 2000 Guineas will take place from racing HQ in the exact same day of next month, and punters will be able to see some of the best equine athletes in the world today.

However, due to the Irish and the prestigious heritage of racing, it remains impossible to overlook them in favour of the English, American and Australian horses. But who should punters who are looking for the best value horse racing tips be keeping a closer eye on for the upcoming season?

Norway

Aidan O’Brien has hardly been able to contain his excitement regarding the prospect of his Scandinavian named Norway. Similar to his past horse of Derrick Smith, Norway also took his time to win his first race; which dually arrived during his outing at Naas in October on his third run. Prior to that, he had endured consecutive defeats; finishing third and fifth both at different meetings at Curragh. The latter of which came on his debut run, in a race which was won by Jessica Harrington’s Klute.

However, he quickly followed up his victory in the Nursery of Champions Maiden by winning once again, this time at Newmarket in the Zetland Stakes. He was powerful, composed and dominant at HQ. He was held up at the back before steaming home under the stewardship on Seamie Heffernan.

He was way below the standard required on his last run at Saint Cloud, where he finished fourth behind Wonderment. However, he is still being touted as a possible St Leger winner later in the season.

Iridessa

Another hopeful for the O’Brien’s comes in the form of Aiden’s sons Joseph-trained three-year-old Iridessa. The bay already has tasted success at HQ after winning the Group One Bet365 Fillies Mile last season. The one main factor that goes in her favour is the fact that there is no standout filly as we get closer to the 1,000 Guineas. Her career has been somewhat stop-start so far with two wins and three defeats in her young career.

She started with a flyer at Killarney on her debut; however, she was heavily beaten by the current market leader for the 1,000 Guineas at Curragh on her second run. Before, finishing third at Leopardstown. She roared back into form at Newmarket when she held off a late challenge from Hermosa to win by one-and-a-half lengths. The signs are definitely bright for this talented mare, and the step up in distance could be the making of her this season.

Japan

We have saved the best for last, and this Aidan O’Brien trained horse for team Ballydoyle could be a serious player in the Epsom Derby in June. It hasn’t been without minor hiccups, however, as he finished seventh of his debut at Curragh in September 2018. But since then he has been in fine form in the colours of Derrick Smith; he has won swiftly with swagger in his previous two runs.

He managed to find another gear at Listowel and won emphatically over seven-furlongs, as he held off a strong push from Aristocratic Man to finish three-quarter-of-a-length ahead. The step up in distance proves that he a staying in trip could be on the horizon in the future. Japan was able to follow this up three weeks later when he secured his first victory in a Group Two race. He achieved this by winning the Beresford Stakes, as he held off Mount Everest.

Japan could essentially be O’Brien’s best hope of a Classic victory for this flat season, and success would see him follow in the path of his father Galileo; who achieved success in the showpiece event of the British flat season calendar in 2001.

Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash

The 145th edition of the Kentucky Derby is about to hit your calendar in about a few days from now. This is the first leg of the most prestigious Triple Crown Series where early favorites are determined whoever will make it to the Kentucky Derby finish line. This year’s edition of the Kentucky Derby is attended by the strongest thoroughbred racers which will be competing in Grade 1 Stakes category. Aside from the fact that this is graced by a lot of horse entries, the event is also known to be attended by an estimated 150,000 crowd all over the world. The pre-season like Santa Anita Derby, Florida Derby, and Arkansas Derby were all done and surely the big winners of these horse racing showdown will come and show off in the 2019 Kentucky Derby.

 

The said thoroughbred race will take place on May 04, 2019 in the race track of Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky. Last year’s Kentucky Derby was won by Justify which was also the recent Triple Crown holder. He was trained by the Hall of Famer trainer Bob Baffert in which he is also looking forward this year to clinch the same title. As we draw near to the Kentucky Derby, few new names have emerged to be the latest favorites to win the Kentucky Derby based on the results of the pre-season. Omaha Beach earned the at least 3-1 odds for the upcoming Kentucky Derby after he won the recent Arkansas Derby and Rebel Stakes. Next to Omaha Beach with around 4-1 bet for the Kentucky Derby is Roadster. He is Bob Baffert’s entry which won in Del Mar Futurity in third place and placed first in Santa Anita. There are also around six horses who made it to the latest bets this week who will ultimately give an excellent show in the fastest two minutes in a sports tournament.

 

Aside from the fact that the Kentucky Derby deems the main event on May 04 in Churchill Downs, take note that there are also several activities you can take part. Opening Day comes on April 27 to set the Kentucky Derby mood, Dawn At The Downs where you have the opportunity to see your entries and meet the jockeys and trainers, Kentucky Derby Oaks for the fillies running for a cause.

 

Jody Demling, a popular SportsLine guru has shared his insights picking for the latest bets in the Kentucky Derby. Jody Demling has been notable for his exact predictions for over a decade now which was lastly proven when Justify won the Triple Crown last year. He has also predicted the winner for the Preakness Stakes last year so as other pre-derby racing events. For some who don’t know, earlier this year when Pegasus World Cup took place, he nailed around $678 payout when he was able to hit the superfecta bet for only $1. Moreover, he also won the superfecta category during the Robert Lewis Stakes and precisely picked the winning horse racer in Risen Star Stakes.

 

Now that we are only a few weeks before the 145th Kentucky Derby, Demling is sharing his latest picks along with Omaha Beach and Roadster which will give an amazing race in the Churchill Downs. His first pick is Tacitus which earned around 10-1 Kentucky Derby bet. He is a Vegas favorite which is also a champion in Tampa Bay Derby and The Wood Memorial. Tacitus is trained by Bill Moth who never won in Preakness and Belmont and hopes that this year he will get the Triple Crown. According to Demling, Tacitus well do best and will surely be in the top five finishers in this year’s Run For The Roses because a 10-1 bet is a clear manifestation of a winning entry.

 

Furthermore, he also considers Long Range Toddy with a whopping and overwhelming odds bet of 50-1. He has been leading the Rebel Stakes where he incredibly finishes in a longshot race course. In the past six pre-Kentucky Derby season races, Long Ranger Toddy has placed third and better adding up victories in Springboard Mile Stakes and Clever Trevor. He also placed sixth in the latest Arkansas Derby which made him earned enough score to be able to take part in this year’s Kentucky Derby.

 

When Demling was asked if Long Range Toddy was a fluke performer during the Rebel Stakes, he responded “No”. He said that Long Range Toddy is a serious horse performer which will surprise everyone in the Kentucky Derby day. Although he hasn’t been seen as a favorite in the early days, he is now part of the most sought after horse racer to win the 145th Kentucky Derby crown.

 

Lastly, his recent activity and performance in the Rebel Stakes which he edged Improbable, one of Bob Baffert’s strongest entry, Long Range Toddy proved that he is one of the most competitive horse racers to watch out for on May 4.

 

What’s in a name? Well in the horse racing world that’s certainly a valid question to ask, as the sport is no stranger to horse names that range from mad to marvelous. Who can forget the likes of Passing Wind and Hoof Hearted, or names designed to give the commentators a hard time, like Wear the Fox Hat (careful!) and AARRRRRRR.

It’s pleasing to know that the art of giving horses wacky names isn’t something that started in the more recent history of racing. Wikipedia informs us that as far back as the 18th century unusual horse names were making an appearance. One of the most amusing ones is none other than a horse named Potoooooooo.

This thoroughbred race horse foaled all the way back in 1773 actually gained his unusual name as result of a misunderstanding. He was initially called Potatoes (which isn’t much better to be honest!), but in a ‘lost in translation’ moment, a stable lad thought his name was pot-eight-o’s, as in literally the word Pot followed by eight o’s. The owner, Willoughby Bertie, found the mix up so funny that he kept the name. Consequently, we’re still talking about the humour of the moment and the amusing story of Potoooooooo in 2019!

 

“I would have,” answered the jockey, “but I didn’t want to leave the horse behind.”

 

It would have been a photo finish, but by the time my horse finished, it was too dark to take a picture.

 

My riding instructor said to me during my lesson, “Your horse is suffering from Equine Thrombosis”.
I was puzzled so I asked, “What causes that?”
He replied very dryly, “It’s caused by a clot in the saddle!”

 

Horse sense: that innate sense that keeps horses from betting on people.

 

 

Did you find my horse well behaved?
Indeed, whenever we came to a fence he let me over first!

 

 

Horse walks into a bar, barman asks, “why the long face?”

 

 

A horse walks into a bar. The barman confuses idioms with jokes and offers him a glass of water, but can’t make him drink

 

 

What’s a horse’s favourite TV show? Neighbours.

Riding the favourite at Cheltenham, the jockey is well ahead of the field. Suddenly he’’s hit on the head by a turkey and a string of sausages. He manages to keep control of his mount and pulls back into the lead, only to be struck by a box of Christmas crackers and a dozen mince pies as he goes over the last fence. With great skill he manages to steer the horse to the front of the field once more when, on the run in, he’s struck on the head by a bottle of sherry and a Christmas pudding. Thus distracted, he succeeds in coming only second. He immediately goes to the stewards to complain that he has been seriously hampered.

 

What’s the difference between praying in church and at the track?
At the track you really mean it!