BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – HORSE racing is nothing new to the shores of St. Kitts-Nevis, but never in the history of the twin-islands has the sport been so popular among the masses, largely thanks to the illustrious Beaumont Park racing facility in Dieppe Bay.
Bumper crowds have filled Beaumont Park for many of its events thus far in 2010, and yet the art of picking that winning horse remains a mystery to many who lay their money down.
With the next big race day planned for Whit Monday (May 24), SKNVibes sat down with Beaumont’s Senior Racing Steward Gary Smith to learn some valuable tips that can take the guesswork out of picking the winner on a consistent basis.
Number One: Relaxed horses run focused races
According to Smith, the stress level of a horse before a race can be one of the most important factors in whether it finishes in the money or in the dust that day.
“I think the first thing you want to take a look at is how the horses are acting in the paddock. It’s best to keep an eye out for the ones that are relaxed rather than overwrought. You can quickly tell which horses are worked up by the lather between their hind legs and the sweat on their neck,” he told SKNVibes.
Apart from watching the horses for alert eyes and perked up ears, the keen observer should be looking to see if the horses are acutely aware of their surroundings.
“Typically they will both jog and gallop for a few minutes in their warm up activities and once you’ve seen them do that, watch how they approach the starting gate prior to the start of the race.”
Number Two: A jockey must know his horse
Jockeys are more than just a rider for a horse; they are an integral part of the race that is essential in getting the most out of the thoroughbreds.
“I think we have a really good jockey colony at Beaumont Park. All of the riders are extremely equivalent in their abilities, but I think it is important for the rider to know their horse,” Smith said. “You can watch riders in the way they sit on a horse.”
Fans should watch to see if a jockey is positioned comfortably and low on their horse. The Beaumont official also said that a rider’s history with an animal and how he pushes and paces it can be crucial to know when making that lucky pick.
“You can see…if they move too quickly with a horse in a particular race, they will find themselves without any gas left for the drive in the homestretch. It’s important to watch their overall ability and riding characteristics in their efforts. A good rider has a stopwatch in their head. They know setting a slow pace will create a distinct disadvantage to those horses who like to come from out of it.”
Number Three: Going the distance means knowing the distance
Races at Beaumont Park can range from two furlongs to one mile in length and not every horse is going to be well suited to each of these distances. Just as some track athletes are better suited toward running the 100m instead of 5000m, different horses have different strengths.
Conveniently for patrons to the Dieppe Bay facility, each race day program contains the information of up to five previous races for each competing horse. This information features the distance of the races and placing of the horses so fans can make a well informed decision.
If a horse has been consistently placing well at a certain distance and will be competing at that distance on race day, then it may be considered as one of the favorites for that particular race.
Number Four: Know the caliber of the horse
Commonly referred to as class, it is important to pay close attention to how each horse has fared against its competitors in its most recent races. If a horse has been able to consistently finish in the money against other top finishers, then that horse would be considered by many to be a safer bet than one who has been challenged by lesser competition.
“The [fans] that are at the track on a regular basis probably have a distinct advantage because they become familiar with the horses that have been competing against one another. This is just another example that knowledge is king. It creates another variable in betting that I have found to be golden,” Smith said.
However, he noted that it is his job to make sure no race is a ‘sure thing’ for any one horse and trainer.
“I think our job is to try and make the races as competitive as possible and when we draw the races we do that. We don’t want any big walkovers between the competition, so we try to get the horses to all get to the finish line at the same time.”
Number Five: Track conditions can affect outcomes
While Beaumont Park is certainly one of the most state-of-the-art facilities in the Caribbean with an excellent drainage system, the racing surface is not entirely immune to the occasional heavy rain that rolls down off of the nearby, majestic Mount Liamuiga.
“You want to keep an eye on the various paths that the horses run in as well. It all depends on how much rain we have. If we have a gusher, then there may be water standing in certain parts of the race track. The riders may have to go to the outside and it may be more favourable to be in the four or five path sometimes.
“At other times, it’s going to be quicker to get to the finish line by staying closest to the rail. It varies, but I think…the track stays fairly consistent overall with rarely any bias,” Smith disclosed.
Place your bets!
Mark your calendar now and get ready to plan your betting strategy. Racing resumes at Beaumont Park on Monday, May 24th. Gates open at 1 p.m. with a first race post time of 3 p.m.
A multitude of other factors can come into play on race day and there is no single, surefire way to always pick a winner in the world of horse racing, but by paying close attention to these five areas you will certainly have a better chance of finding your pay day at Beaumont Park.
And who knows, you might even leave the track with a few extra dollars in your pockets!
