Keeneland is presenting @BetKeeneland on Twitter during the 2018 spring meet to provide horseplayers with real-time handicapping tips and insights while benefiting the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance through its “Handicapper of the Day Series.”
Keeneland’s 16-day spring meet opens Friday, April 6, and runs through Friday, April 27.
The @BetKeeneland handle will provide horseplayers with on-demand wagering content including live reports and updates lasting 60-90 seconds approximately 10 minutes prior to each race from Jeremy Plonk of Horseplayernow.com along with scratches, changes, clockers reports, and other wagering-related information.
In addition, nationally recognized handicappers will share their daily picks and recommended wagers with a $200 bankroll they will play each race day to benefit the TAA, which accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retire, retrain, and rehome Thoroughbreds.
Kicking off the series April 6 is Brian DiDonato, racing editor of Thoroughbred Daily News. Also participating opening weekend are Eddie Olczyk, former professional hockey player and NBC Sports’ lead handicapper (April 7) and TVG anchor Todd Schrupp (April 8).
Other Handicappers of the Day through the Spring Meet are:
• Johnny Avello, noted Las Vegas oddsmaker.
• Michael Beychok, winner of the 2012 NTRA National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) handicapping tournament. Beychok claimed the filly who won him the contest, Glorious Dancer.
• Caton Bredar, TVG paddock reporter and co-host of Horse Player NOW’s program Night School.
• Zoe Cadman, former jockey and racing analyst for XBTV.com.
• “Keeneland Dan” Cronin, handicapper at fatbaldguyracing.com.
• Jude Feld, former trainer and racing analyst and reporter for Horse Racing Radio Network.
• Dave Johnson, former ABC Sports race caller and co-host of “Down the Stretch” on SiriusXM radio.
• Jonathon Kinchen, 2015 NHC Tour winner and co-hot of the weekly Players Podcast on DRF.com.
• Tom Leach, voice of the Kentucky Wildcats football and men’s basketball teams and a Keeneland Select handicapper and interviewer.
• Paul Matties Jr., racehorse owner and 2017 NHC champion.
• Samantha Siegel, who races horses as Jay Em Ess Stable. Siegel participated in the series during Keeneland’s 2017 Fall Meet and bested other handicappers by recording a $4,050.80 bankroll to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
• Nick Tammaro, Beyer Associates speed figure maker and winner of the 2017 Keeneland Fall Challenge handicapping tournament.
• Judy Wagner, 2011 NHC winner and member of NTRA’s Board of Directors as an advocate for horseplayers.
The TAA is excited about the connection to @BetKeeneland.
“The TAA is proud to partner with Keeneland as the beneficiary of @BetKeeneland during the 2018 Spring Meet,” TAA President John Phillips, owner of Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, said. “Handicappers are some of our biggest supporters and we’re grateful for the continued support from the Keeneland Association, one of our seed-money donors.
“Since inception in 2012, the TAA has granted more than $10.8 million to accredited organizations, and this partnership with @BetKeeneland allows us to continue to support our 64 accredited aftercare organizations with approximately 170 facilities in North America.
“Aftercare is a way to protect the future of our sport and can’t be an afterthought for our industry,” Phillips added. “As an industry-wide initiative, the TAA is proud to be a leader in responsible aftercare and in providing an answer to what happens to our equine athletes after they leave the track.”
Keeneland, in support of its mission to reinvest in the Thoroughbred industry, has donated more than $1.3 million to the TAA through its racing and sales.
