BC Racebook Newsletter - February 16, 2024
Fraser Downs Harness Racing Meet Returns with Exciting New Features and Low Takeouts
Fraser Downs in Surrey, British Columbia, is thrilled about the restart of harness racing meet on the 5/8ths oval on Thursday February 8. Following a planned break in December and January, and an additional week due to adverse weather conditions in the region, Fraser Downs is back with some new features and some great offers for players.
Starting on Thursday, the Double is now going to have a new $2 minimum bet, providing the opportunity to increase the payouts on the pool. Additionally, the track will be adding a late Double on the last two races of the program.
What sets Fraser Downs apart is its commitment to providing some of the lowest takeouts in the harness racing industry. With just 15% takeout on various bet types including Win, Place, Show, Double, Hi5, Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 5, Fraser Downs is ensuring that more winnings stay in the hands of the fans.
Dawn Lupul, Manager of Racing and Communications at Fraser Downs, expressed her excitement about the return of live racing, stating, "After the recent challenges posed by the weather in BC, we’re thrilled to be getting back to racing!”
Players can take advantage of some exciting offers available at the leading betting platforms such as HPIbet, 1/ST Bet - Xpressbet, and Twinspires. These offers include enticing incentives such as 10% cashback, Bet $100 Get $10, and 25% Win Bonuses.
Racing enthusiasts can catch all the action every Thursday and Friday nights through April 26, with the races starting at 7 pm Pacific Time / 10 pm Eastern Time each night. The racing is broadcast in full high-definition through Roberts Communication Network and YouTube Live. (@FraserDowns_Surrey)
Hong Kong Gold Cup Wagering
by Dawn Lupul
Betting races from Hong Kong is a fun challenge that can yield generous payoffs with some careful study and a little luck. Much like in North America, focusing on big races can provide an opportunity to get more value for your dollar with a lot of money being bet by casual players. Simply put, there is more money bet on horses on big days who have very little chance of winning.
This year’s Gold Cup will be run on February 25th, offering prize money of $10 million Hong King dollars, or just over $1.7 million Canadian. There are a couple of things I look at to make the handicapping puzzle a little easier.
First off, I like to see where the top riders have landed. Zac Purton has been consistently at the top echelon of Hong Kong racing, and I will normally include him in all vertical wagers. He is currently well clear of all jockeys this year, with 20 more wins than Karis Teetan and 30 ahead of Hugh Bowman.
Trainers in Hong Kong are much more evenly matched, and I rarely base a wager merely on a trainer stat.
Horses with recent action over the track can have a slight advantage, especially at similar distances. One angle that can lead to healthy payouts is to find the best horse who starts from the middle of the gate at long distances, like the 2000 metres of the Gold Cup. In shorter races the inside does well, and outside draws are challenging no matter how far they are running.
Take the time to keep an eye on the odds, especially right at the start of wagering and then in the last minute before post time. This advice applies to any track but is especially helpful when playing an unfamiliar and challenging track like Sha Tin.
All the best with your Hong Kong wagering!
Bailey On The Backstretch
by Bailey Williams
As another season of Harness racing is underway at Fraser so is preparation for the 2024 Thoroughbred meet at Hasting. The best sight and sound at both tracks are the rumble of the hooves followed by smiling owners and fans alike.
Though the weather postponed the start of Frasers season the players hit the windows and left the gate running. Strong Friday night attendance led to great chatter throughout the frontside. People enjoyed a delicious meal, entertainment and most importantly learning how to wager.
It was great to walk through opening week and see so many familiar faces but even better to see so many new, eager fans among the crowd. The horses and drivers certainly did not disappoint in putting on a show. There were lots of photo finishes, many of which included 3 horses vying for that winning position.
If Fraser Downs opening week is an indication of the year ahead, the changes continuously being made are having a much needed moral boost that is being felt for all who make the races happen.
