Paddock Reports

[highnote]

Are there any commercial paddock reports available, and if so, does anyone have any experience using them?

Specifically, I'd like to know how a horse looks today compared to how it looked before and after previous races.

Second, I'd like to know about it's physique -- is it built like a sprinter, a sprint/miler, a turf horse, a 10 furlong horse, etc.

When I used to do paddock handicapping I'd try to judge a horse's distance preference based on it physique. A horse like Skipaway looked like he could get anywhere from 7 furlongs to 10 furlongs on dirt. He didn't look like he'd be a good turf horse.

My Flag was a tall lanky filly that looked like she could run all day, but I doubt she would have been able to sprint 5 furlongs.

Some horses looked like the were best suited to races up to 8.5 furlongs and some looked like they would do best going over hurdles -- anyone remember Harrowman? He raced on turf, but looked like a jumper. The owner or trainer must have suspected the same thing and Harrowman went on to be a pretty good hurdler.

[Milleruszk]

I believe Joe Takach has such a subscription service on the west coast. I know that he had indicated he was going to expand to other tracks but I don't know how far along that project is.

[so.cal.fan]

Check Joe Takach's website, swetyjohn. It's listed on PA home page (reading room).
Joe has real time paddock reports, via your computer.
Joe and another partner check horses in the paddock and warming up, another associate has a laptop and sends you real time information.
If you are making large bets from home on Del Mar races, you may very well be interested in their service...it is up and running and has been for several months now.
Check it out.

[highnote]

Thanks. I'll check out his site. Sounds like it could be exactly what I'm looking for.

My experience has been that a horse can look incredibly good in the paddock, but still not win. What counts is how the horse looked last time out compared to this time. And also the body type -- a horse built like a 5 furlong sprinter is not going to win a 10 furlong race on the grass against 10 furlong grass specialists.

[so.cal.fan]

Okay, you'll be interested in his So. Cal. Horses To Watch daily reports.
you get a report the morning of the races....it tells you how horses looked last time plus gives other useful information.
I have to use the information when I'm not at the track.....I've saved many a losing bet by knowing a horse wears bar shoes, etc.