Handicapping Horses in Dallas

Racing in the Metroplex

Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie (sometimes searched as Lone Star Downs) is the live horse racing track for Dallas–Fort Worth, right between the two cities. It usually runs a spring and summer season led by Thoroughbreds and a fall season led by Quarter Horses, with big nights like the Texas Classic Futurity at the end of the fall meet. Race days are usually Thursday afternoons and Friday and Saturday evenings during the meet.

Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses

Thoroughbreds run longer races, measured in furlongs (one furlong is 220 yards), usually around one or two turns. Pace matters: who goes to the front, who saves ground, who finishes. Quarter Horses run short, straight sprints measured in yards. The break from the gate and the lane matter more than anything. Read more in How to handicap Quarter Horses.

A simple way to start

• Pick one race. Read each horse's last three races in the program (how to read a racing form).
• Throw out horses that have been beaten badly at this distance and class.
• Look for horses that are getting faster, have a good rider, or are dropping in class.
• Compare your choice with the odds. A good horse at fair odds is the goal, not just the favorite.
• Keep a notebook of your picks, win or lose. That is the only honest way to know if you are getting better.

Jockey and trainer stats

In the Brian's Lucky Picks app, every horse has a card with its record, its last races, and tonight's jockey and trainer with how often they win at the meet. Riders and trainers who are hot at Lone Star are worth noticing.

Texas horse racing picks from a local handicapper

Brian's Lucky Picks covers one track only, Lone Star Park, from Dallas–Fort Worth. On race days it gives WIN, PLACE and SHOW picks for every race, a countdown and a phone alert before post time, results after each race, a card for every horse and a Read button that reads the picks out loud. Every final pick goes on the public record, win or lose: see it here. There is a page for every race day too, starting from Lone Star Park Picks.

Good to know

Brian's Lucky Picks is not part of, and not endorsed by, Lone Star Park. Not affiliated with Lone Star Park. It is a picks subscription only: no bets are taken here. 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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