Parx Racing gaining stakes recognition

Horseracing Betting Lines

12/05/2011 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Each year the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association re-evaluates all the stakes races in the United States with a minimum purse of $75,000. Stakes can be elevated in status, reduced or remain status quo.

Racetracks take great pride in having their stakes races given a graded status. In particular the tracks not considered major venues for racing.

This year the committee gave special recognition to stakes races conducted at Parx Racing in suburban Philadelphia. The former Philadelphia Park, and before that Keystone Race Track, gained several upgrades to their stakes.

For the first time in track history a Grade I race, the highest level stakes, will be held at Parx Racing. The Cotillion Stakes for three-year-old fillies has gained the coveted position as Grade I.

The last three runnings of the Cotillion have featured the best of each year's sophomore fillies. In 2009 Careless Jewel may have been the second best filly behind Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. Prior to capturing the Cotillion, Careless Jewel won the Delaware Oaks and Alabama.

In 2010 the two best female three-year-olds, Blind Luck and Havre de Grace, hooked up in another edition of their now historic rivalry. Havre de Grace finally got the win over Blind Luck who had defeated the Delaware Park-based filly in the Alabama and Delaware Oaks.

This year's Cotillion showcased two of the top fillies in training. Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty was again facing It's Tricky winner of the Acorn and Coaching Club American Oaks. Trained by Bob Baffert, Plum Pretty avenged the American Oaks loss by crushing It's Tricky by more than seven-lengths.

Joining the Cotillion and the Grade II Pennsylvania Derby on the graded stakes roster at Parx Racing are the Smarty Jones, Greenwood Cup and Dr. James Penny Memorial Handicap, all three being elevated to Grade III.

Another track beaming with pride is Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia. The track's premier race, the $1,000,000 Charles Town Classic, has been moved up to Grade II after just three editions.

"Every member of our team should be proud that their efforts and hard work are resulting in some historic firsts for our track," said Erich Zimny, Director of Racing Operations. "In 18 of the last 19 months, our average daily handle has grown versus the prior year's number and there are more eyes on racing in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia than there ever have been. We could not have accomplished that - or sustain it - without our event days."

Duke of Mischief won this year Classic followed by Santa Anita Handicap champ Game On Dude and Whitney Handicap winner Tizway. Eventual Pacific Classic winner Acclamation finished last in the 10-horse field.

What do each of these two tracks have in common? Casinos.

Wwlooksmart Horseracing Betting News

<< Bears' Forte has MCL sprain
Lake Forest, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte could be sidelined for at least a couple of weeks with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Forte was hurt during the first quarter of Sunday's g

<< Bolton to appeal Cahill red card
Bolton, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bolton announced on Monday that the club will appeal the red card issued to defender Gary Cahill during Wanderers 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday. Referee Stuart Attwell gave

<< Freeze leaves Arkansas State for Ole Miss
Oxford, MS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ole Miss has named Hugh Freeze its new head football coach. Freeze spent just one season as head coach at Arkansas State and guided the Red Wolves to a record of 10-2 with a Sun Belt championship and a b

<< Moulson highlights NHL's 'Three Stars'
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Islanders forward Matt Moulson, Colorado Avalanche center Ryan O'Reilly and Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending Decembe

<< Cornell's Mathews, Harvard's Ortiz win Bushnell Cup
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cornell sophomore quarterback Jeff Mathews and Harvard senior defensive tackle Josue Ortiz were named the 2011 recipients of the Asa S. Bushnell Cup, which honors the Ivy League football players of year, on Monda

Ibagaza out for Arsenal clash >>
Piraeus, Greece (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Olympiacos midfielder Ariel Ibagaza will miss his team's final Champions League Group F match against Arsenal on Tuesday because of a thigh injury. The 35-year-old sustained the problem in

Kentucky still No. 1; Harvard ranked for first time >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kentucky remained the top team in the latest Associated Press men's college basketball poll, while Harvard is ranked for the first time and is among the four newcomers this week. The Wildcats kept the to

Newcastle's Taylor likely out for season >>
Newcastle, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Newcastle has confirmed that defender Steven Taylor is likely to miss the rest of the season because of an Achilles injury. Taylor suffered the injury in Newcastle's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday

Big step, but Tiger's not back yet >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The drought lasted 749 days, 107 weeks and 27 starts. Tiger Woods is finally a golfing champion once again. His win Sunday at the Chevron World Challenge was his first since the infamous car crash that de

Stanford's Luck captures Unitas Award >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Stanford's Andrew Luck has been named the recipient of the 2011 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation's top quarterback. Luck threw for 3,170 yards and 35 touchdowns for a 167.5 passer r

2007 NFL Football Betting Preview


“You play to win the game!”

Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.

The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.

The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.

Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?

Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.

New York Giants betting lines

Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.

Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.

Dallas Cowboys betting lines

Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.

The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.

Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.

Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.

Oakland Raiders betting lines

This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.

First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”

The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. 

Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football wagering needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.