“BACKSIDE LIL” Â SELECTED AS RACE TRACK ANALYSTS FOR CITY COUNTY OBSERVER
I’m glad to be back in Southern Indiana after 21 years traveling the country side and visiting nearly every horse track in the world.  Although I can speak five (9) languages fluently, my favorite language is good ole “KENTUCKY TWANGâ€. All I can say about myself is, I was born, highly educated (7 college degrees) and presently living! I just can’t wait for the live meet at Ellis Park to begin.
Lately I been hanging out and enjoyed connecting with my roots once again. Though I am still grieving about the passing of my 7th husband, oil man, Wolfgang Franz from Germany. Recently, I have rekindled an old flame with my high school sweetheart long time Ellis Park horse owner and trainer Kyle. We parted ways after high school due to my risky enlistment into the CIA. I’m now retired and just accepted a part time race track analyst with the City-County Observer.
Oh, I want to personally thank the City County Observer for allowing me to write Handicapping articles on my predictions on upcoming winners not only at Ellis Park but also at other tracks throughout the country.
I can guarantee that I know all about this subject and if you follow my predictions It’s my  hope you will make a little money by doing so  Bottom line there are no guarantee that you will be able win a bunch of money by doing so.  Oh, I’m just a cartoon character created by the CCO so they can bring little more humor and interest for their readership.  The handicapping of the races will be done by knowledgeable people.  So sit back and enjoy and lets have fun at the races!
Until next time, don’t take any wooden nickels! I’m on my way to give a lecture at Keeneland Race Track on “Handicapping of Racesâ€!
Amore!
FOOTNOTES FROM “BACKSIDE LIL
Horse racing, like many sports, has its own language. Whether it’s how to place a bet, or words on a race form, it can be a bit perplexing. Â Below you’ll find a glossary of race track terms you should know.Â
ACROSS THE BOARD: A bet on one horse to win, place, and show.
ALLOWANCE OR ALLOWANCE RACE:Â A non-claiming event in which the racing secretary conditions weight allowances based on previous purse earnings and/or types of victories.
ALSO ELIGIBLE OR “E’:Â Horses entered into the field that will not run unless other horses are scratched.
APPRENTICE JOCKEY:Â A student jockey that will receive a weight allowance of varying degrees depending on his or her experience.
BACKSTRETCH: The straight part of the track opposite the finish line or the stable area.
BABY RACE: Â A race for two year old horses, especially early in the season.
BLINKERS: Blinkers: Eye equipment that limits a horse’s vision; generally used to help the horse concentrate on running and to reduce di
traction.
BREEZE: A term generally used to describe a workout in which a horse is easily running under a hold without encouragement from the rider.
BUG BOY: An apprentice jockey
CLAIMING RACE: A race where each horse in the field has a price and can be purchased by any person that makes a valid claim prior to the running of the race.
CLUBHOUSE TURN: The first turn of races that begin on the frontstretch/homestretch.
CONDITIONS: The circumstances under which a race will be run, such as: surface, distance, purse, and eligibilities.
EXACTA: A bet in which the player attempts to pick the 1st and 2nd place horse on one ticket.
Fast Track: Rating of a dirt track that is dry and hard.
FIRE SALE: Â A drastic reduction in the claiming price of a horse.
FRACTIONS: Clocking at quarter-mile increments in either a race or a workout.
FRONT RUNNER: A horse that wants to run on or near the lead.
FURLONG: One eighth of a mile.
GRADED RACE: A stakes race that is assigned a grade (I, II, or III) by the American Graded Stakes Committee based on the relative strength of the race as compared to all other races. This is the highest form of racing.
HANDICAP: A race in which the racing secretary assigns weights designed to equalize the winning chances of the entrants; or to study horses’ records in order to determine the chances of each to win the race.
HEAVY TRACK: A grass racing surface that has received an extremely large amount of water and is an almost bog-like condition.
INQUIRY: An official investigation by the stewards of the running of the race to determine whether a foul was committed by a horse or jockey.
In the money: To finish in the top four; this generally entitles the owner to a share of the purse. In betting terms “in the money” means to finish in the top three.
MADDEN: A horse that has never won a race; or a race for horses that have never won a race.
furlongs but shorter than 1 1/8 miles.
MINUS POOL: When enough money is bet on one horse that the pool is insufficient, after the track take, to pay the holders of the winning ticket the legal minimum odds. In this situation, the track is required to make up the difference to ensure that the bettors are paid the full amount.
MORNING ODDS; Â The odds set by the track prior to the opening of the pools.
MUDDY TRACK: A dirt track that is soft, wet and holding.
OBJECTIONS: A claim of foul by a jockey following the race.
ODDS: The chances of a horse to win a particular race based on the pari-mutuel wagering of the general public. The payouts for a $2 bet with corresponding odds are listed below:
OFF THE BOARD: A horse that fails to finish in the money.
OFF TRACK: A racing surface that is anything other than Fast (Dirt) or Firm (Turf/Grass).
SCHOOL: To train a horse, generally in the starting gate or the paddock.
SCRATCH: To withdraw a horse from a race.
SHIPPER: A horse that has traveled from one track to another to run in a race.
SHUT OUT:Â When a player fails to make his bet at the window prior to the gate opening.
STEWARDS: Three person panel that determines whether or not any rules violations occurred during the race.
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TRIFECTA:Â A wager in which the player selects the first three horses in a race in order.
TURF COURSE: Â A grass covered course.
WASHED OUT: A nervous horse that is sweating.
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