David Hill

David Hill is a writer and gambler who grew up in the shadow of the Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. He has written for a number of publications and is currently writing his first book. You can read more at davidhillonline.com.

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Secretariat, the Preakness, and a 39-Year Controversy

Maximum Security’s disqualification in the 2019 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve inspired much controversy, and the debate at times felt like the 1950 Kurosawa film “Rashomon,” where...

Legends Posted May 11th, 2023 ·

The Story of a Racehorse Named Thanksgiving

Max Hirsch was a titan in the sport. He won the 1934 Travers Stakes with Observant. He trained Bold Venture, winner of the 1936 Kentucky Derby and Preakness. He was well on his way to a Hall of...

Legends Posted November 20th, 2022 ·

A Racing Classic: ‘Let It Ride’ Stands Test of Time

Longtime ESPN horse racing columnist and Oklahoma-based author/journalist Jay Cronley died on Feb. 26, 2017. Cronley was the author of seven books, including "Funny Farm" and "Quick Change," which...

Pop Culture Posted January 13th, 2022 ·

What Is … a ‘Jeopardy’ Dream Fulfilled for Equibase Chart Caller Nicolle Neulist?

Nicolle Neulist had never taken a day off from work. A self-described “perfect attendance kid,” they had always figured that, short of an emergency, why not just go in? After all, who wouldn’t want...

Pop Culture Posted August 13th, 2021 ·

Can Twitch Help Revolutionize Horse Racing?

There is a lot to root for in horse racing. There are the horses, naturally, and they rightfully command the most attention as the main attraction. But each racehorse has an entire village behind...

Pop Culture Posted February 10th, 2021 ·

Finding Scenarios to Use Turn-Back Angle to Identify Longshots

They say Saratoga is “The Graveyard of Champions,” so if you’re playing there later this summer you’re probably looking for a way to pick some good longshots. If you’re a greenhorn at the racetrack...

Gambling Posted June 26th, 2020 ·

The Story of Sergeant Reckless: Korean War Horse Served with Valor

The recoilless rifle was six feet long and weighed over a hundred pounds. It often required three or four Marines to carry it across the battlefields during the Korean War. Lugging it was dangerous...

The Life Posted May 25th, 2020 ·

A Visit to Central Kentucky in ‘The Crown’: Fiction Meets Reality

In the fifth episode of season three of Netflix’s “The Crown,” Queen Elizabeth II travels to Kentucky and spends a month in the commonwealth looking for horses to breed with her mares, some of whom...

Pop Culture Posted December 15th, 2019 ·

Ode to the Belmont Barber Shop

The first time I set eyes on the barber shop at Belmont Park I was drawn to it. This, I imagined, was a place for a real gambler. Anyone who took the time to get their hair cut while at the...

Pop Culture Posted September 30th, 2019 ·

Locating Live Longshots By Using the ‘Key Race’ Angle

Often, you’ll hear trainers or turf writers referring to a big race as a “key race” in a horse’s preparation for some other race. What they usually mean is that the race was essential to the...

Gambling Posted July 23rd, 2019 ·

Sports Betting at Oaklawn Recalls History of Illicit Gambling in Hot Springs

This Monday, legal sports wagering went live at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., making that state the ninth in the country to permit regulated sportsbooks after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned...

Gambling Posted July 2nd, 2019 ·

Belmont's Well-Earned Nickname: Big Sandy

The first thing most people who visit Belmont Park for the first time notice is how big the track is. It’s unusually big. The turns are wider than most tracks. The half-mile pole sits where the ⅜...

The Life Posted May 31st, 2019 ·

David Hill

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