Fairplex Park Betting – Toasting At The Fair
The best wedding toast personally ever heard was given by a friend of mine who told the new bride and groom that marriage was not like a 2-furlong sprint from the chute at Los Alamitos but was more like a mile and three eighths marathon at Fairplex when you have to go round, and round, and round.
The Fairplex Park meet at Pomona will take place Thursday, Sept. 8 through Monday, Sept. 26.
Pomona has a storied history. In 1933, pari-mutuel wagering was legalized in California. On Sept. 15 of that year the Pomona track was the first to present pari-mutuel wagering on thoroughbred horse racing in Southern California.
With a 5-furlong oval, races run at Fairplex, can be confusing for the rider and the fan. Many a rider has misjudged the finish line over the years and mistakes were made by some very good journeymen. This is a meeting that can be profitable for the player if he or she is patient, keeps his nose to the ground, and tries to not get caught up in taking short prices.
Years ago this meeting was a shot for the little guy to come in and get paid but as simulcasting came into view and money came rolling in, the bigger barns could not resist the temptation to run here and steal some purses.
Sports betting players know it’s a great track to bring a beginner to for the first time because it can be so intimate. You can really get a feel for the game if you venture out to the infield, get to the rail, listen and watch the horses roll by and hear the jockeys screaming and the dirt clods flying. If you can’t become a fan after an experience like that, maybe NASCAR is your thing.
Fairplex has always been a haven for horses for courses. If a racer gets a feel of the oval, and even if the performance is less than stellar, it could be much better than a runner who never tried these tight turns.
The natural inclination is to just jump on the speed and roll but you can come from stalking positions at Pomona. It takes a specific kind of athletic horse to maneuver on the tight course and would look for long shots to come from places like Boise, Arizona or Oregon where runners are used to bullring ovals.
Horsemen shipping from Del Mar will try to drop many of their horses at this meet. If they can get a horse to graduate, or maybe qualify for a starter event later in this meet, a purse could be stolen. Droppers will be hammered at the windows but make sure you examine the pace of the race and be careful before backing cold stone closers against cheap speed. You can get value if you find a cheap runner that has a capable rider and has proven ability on the track.
As for the human element, the song will remain the same for guys like Doug O’Neill, who lead the league last year and could be loaded for bear this season, as his Del Mar stand was just ordinary.
If you’re betting horses, other guys to watch include Jorge Gutierrez, who had 33 starters last year, caught 10 winners and 9 others were in the money. Pete Miller was 5 for 11, Adam Kitchingman was 4 for 7 and Kathy Walsh won with 3 of her 4 starters and the other ran third.
As for the riders, Elvis may have left the building but he has been replaced at Pomona by the King, Martin Pedroza. He crushed the competition last year winning with 36% of his 126 mounts winning the title by 30 winners.
David Flores rides the bullring almost as good as anybody and Alonso Quinonez was second in the standings last year and should offer good value daily.
Last but not least, play chalk cautiously here. There are a lot of ways to get pushed wide, get hung out to dry or flat out get beat at this place. If you do like chalk, key that runner in the gimmicks rather than swallowing 4-5 and try to make lemonade from a sour lemon.
Class is not the end all at the bottom levels. Condition and current form can hold a decided edge. And, therefore, there will be value.
Online horse betting players should remember it takes a certain kind of horse to win at Pomona. A runner has to be agile enough to handle the tight turns and he has to have tactical speed most of the time to compete.
Good luck.
