Auto Racing Blogs
Sports blogs can be a real mixed bag. In an era dominated by Google, all websites try to convince browsers that their headline is the place to click for everything fit to print. Like an old, stale box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get…but chances are it’s bad.
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Some authors drone on forever, hoping that the sheer bulk of the content will help them get a search engine rank. Others use fake headlines like “Colin Kaepernick signed by Dallas Cowboys” only to print nothing but unsubstantiated rumors below the main copy. Finally, there are the blogs that include so many paid ads; the entire webpage is practically one big ad.
Even the blank background is a link to a subscription site for insurance quotes or dental care…or more ads.
Thankfully, the world of horse racing can be a breath of fresh air in the blogosphere. Written by enthusiasts, handicappers, and breeders, a big handful of Thoroughbred news and opinion sites are entertaining and informative. It’s a niche market, so the adware demon tends to leave it alone. And once people fall in love with horse racing, they’re likely to stay in love with horse racing. Therefore, the blogs stay online and faithfully updated for months, years, even decades.
Still, there’s a lot of crap out there – horse crap, even. How can a newbie locate the best blogs and best opinion writing on colts, geldings, and fillies?
Look no further. Here’s a list of 10 excellent blogs covering Thoroughbred races in the United States. With the Kentucky Derby right around the corner, I’ll also include a sneak preview of how each site is handicapping the Run for the Roses.
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Winning Ponies
This is a Thoroughbred blog with a lot of charm. The writing style is fun, and you can tell you’re getting a real opinion from author Ed Meyer. Videos of races are expertly embedded in the main scroll. Plenty of stats, expert handicapping, and nice descriptions of various races and tracks.
That’s an excellent touch, as many horse racing authors assume everyone is already a grizzled expert for some reason. Winning Ponies does not sell picks or offer more than casual advice on which ponies to bet on.
Meyer seems to be just as high on Good Magic (+1200 at Bovada Sportsbook) and Enticed (+2500) as the odds-on favorite Justify (+400) to win the Derby.
US Racing
Sometimes a webpage has a lot to offer but fails to organize it in a perfect way. US Racing is linked to several race books along with analysis and handicapping. Plenty of real info and resources without much fluff.
My only issue is that the actual “blog” page should be taken down. It seems to have been abandoned quickly after its inception, but instead of dropping the editorial content, the editors moved various expert columns to different nooks and crannies in the menu.
Summit Racing Parts
US Racing hasn’t picked a favorite horse for the Derby yet…but nobody on the site thinks Justify is a worthy favorite.
Paulick Report
This well-respected site is a great source for Thoroughbred news. Long and informative blog posts span the breadth of track racing in the United States and beyond. There are a few stories on big steeplechases from across the pond as well. The page is updated at least once per week all year round.
One thing you won’t find at Paulick Report is handicapping, however. You can read up on all the horses entered in the 2018 Kentucky Derby, but don’t expect to get a recommended betting pick.
Bloodhorse
This page’s tagline is interesting, as it boasts reporting on Thoroughbreds for over 100 years. Hmm. The internet really hasn’t been around that long, so we’ll assume they’re talking about the organization and not the blog.
Jokes aside, Bloodhorse is a world-famous source for racing info, and it’s not hard to see why. Expansive news stories and opinion posts are updated daily.
Handicapping at Bloodhorse is not overbearing – the site doesn’t scream at the reader to bet on a certain Thoroughbred at a given casino, but instead carefully lays out the pros and cons of each pick.
Like at Winning Ponies, there is no clear consensus on a Derby wager (yet). But Bloodhorse also likes Good Magic to surprise in Louisville.
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This blog is noteworthy for its activism. Author Abigail Anderson, a long-time Bloodhorse collaborator, is deeply concerned with equine rights and strongly opposes the destruction of old or injured Thoroughbreds. Her writing is emotional and captivating, and she does not demonize the sport of horse racing in the slightest…only abusive owners and inhumane treatment of the animals.
Anderson does take time to comment on big races and the aesthetic of great racehorses in action. She doesn’t seem to have a favorite for the Kentucky Derby, but the site is updated only every few weeks, so we’ll keep an eye on it.
TVG
Marketed as a “horse racing insider blog,” TVG is a mobile-device-friendly stop for quick updates on race results and previews for upcoming sweepstakes. However, a deeper dive into the site will reveal longer editorials and plenty of handicapping.
TVG is all about the odds and doesn’t mind telling you which bets carry the best value. However, due to its time-sensitive focus on each weekend’s races, you should not expect to find a lot of advance Derby handicapping at present. Do expect a large blast of Churchill Downs touts by the 1st of May.
Twin Spires
Did I say ads were a bad thing? Well, maybe when that’s all there is. But Twin Spires, a Churchill Downs betting blog, is full of ads…and yet it’s one of the cooler horse racing sites on the web.
The page is easy to navigate and is updated every day with multiple blog posts. Very well maintained. Excellent handicapping and betting advice, without getting too pushy about which ponies to play. Despite being based around a mecca of American track racing, the blog covers steeplechases too!
Once again, Good Magic is touted as a value pick for the Derby. I’m sensing a pattern.
This Is Horse Racing
Another hobbyist blog that steers clear of betting previews and handicapping, though its authors do take the time to list odds next to their favorite Thoroughbreds. This Is Horse Racing is written with a personal touch and is extremely in-depth and informative. Updated weekly.
There is no Kentucky Derby pick available at this time. I would expect such an enthusiastic blog to make a pick just for the heck of it, so stay tuned.
National Race Masters
Most of the blogs I’ve reviewed so far are tactful in their betting suggestions. National Race Masters is a terrific handicapping site, but it can get a little pushy in suggesting, or demanding, that certain value-picks and sleeper bets are heeded by the gambler. There are no gentle, on-the-other-hand style touts on this blog. In the tradition of Hunter S. Thompson’s “The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved,” the authors would rather throw you a beer and shout “DO IT NOWWWW!”
That doesn’t mean they’re giving bad advice, though. The consensus at the site seems to be that Solomini (+2200), a Bob Baffert horse ranked #12 in the current Kentucky Derby standings and who just showed at the Arkansas Derby, is underrated and could surprise in May.
Can Solomini win? It’s hardly a stretch for the imagination.
Horse Race Insider
Throughout this article, I have praised blogs for having long, in-depth stories. And I meant it. But there’s something to be said for brief, informative snippets that can be enjoyed on the go. Take a peek at Horse Race Insider, a collection of snappy posts by expert handicappers.
Few sweepstakes pass by these guys uncovered. But unlike a lot of blogs that look at minor races each weekend, there’s already plenty of Kentucky Derby articles and betting advice for the big day in Louisville.
The site currently ranks Audible #1 in its Triple Crown power rankings, and there are plenty of surprising picks and insider nuggets hidden in the weeds. It doesn’t take long to surf the entire site for the goodies, because the writing is concise and straight to the bone. Experienced handicappers and easy navigation along with short reading time? Sounds like a horse racing blog for the 21st century. But if your trick is reading a careful examination of Thoroughbreds and statistics to ponder on your own, I suggest you try one of the 9 previously listed blogs first.
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Auto Racing Blogs
No pair of bettors are alike, but even if you’re just into the ponies as a viewing hobby, there’s something in these 10 blog sites for everyone.
I’ve screened out the shysters and the nasty auto-loading adware – those sites didn’t make the cut. Your devices are perfectly safe from harm, so give each URL a browse and see which blog fits your personal preferences.
Thoroughbreds may not be able to read, but they’re still inspiring some of the best sports-writing on the world wide web. Enjoy!
If you’re looking for auto racing betting previews, odds, and predictions, you’ve come to the right place. This page is complete with our full collection of blogs on auto racing and auto race betting.